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Last update - 17:47 09/02/2008 U.S.: Security forces for future Palestinian state will require $7b By Reuters Tags: U.S., Palestinian security  Building Palestinian security forces for a future state will require a multibillion-dollar infusion of donor funds dwarfing existing commitments, according to U.S. estimates shared with European and Israeli officials recently. A Palestinian security plan backed by Washington calls for consolidating Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' forces into a nearly 50,000-member gendarmerie that can both police civilians and rein in militants who could try to block any future peace deal. Internal cost estimates for the overhaul, ranging from $4.2 billion to $7 billion over five years, were compiled by U.S. security officials and their Palestinian counterparts, and recently shared with Israel and foreign diplomats, who expressed doubts that donors would produce such large sums anytime soon. Advertisement Only $86 million in funding from the United States has materialized so far to help build up Abbas' forces, which were routed from the Gaza Strip in June by Hamas Islamists who oppose the peace talks. The funding gap highlights one of the biggest hurdles facing a U.S. push to reach a statehood agreement. Even if a deal is reached before U.S. President George W. Bush leaves office next January, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has vowed not to implement it until Abbas reins in militants, both in the West Bank, where his Fatah faction dominates, as well as in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem declined comment on the cost estimates, which a European diplomat said painted a picture of "how things might look at the end" and may be overstated. "It shows the enormous challenge that lies ahead," a Western diplomat said of getting donors to make such large, long-term investments in Abbas' forces and creating a pension scheme to lure older commanders and fighters into retirement. Diplomats say none of the $7.7 billion pledged to the Palestinians at a donors conference in Paris in December was earmarked for the security overhaul, though a portion could be redirected in future to meet some of the security needs. The newly appointed U.S. envoy for Middle East security, James Jones, is preparing a report that will assess Palestinian security needs and how to ensure any future withdrawal of Israeli troops would not create a security vacuum. Diplomats said the $4.2 billion to $7 billion estimate was based on the projected cost of providing Abbas' forces with the infrastructure, equipment and training they would need. The security overhaul calls for reducing the size of Palestinian forces by about one-third. By offering retirement incentives, Abbas' government hopes to avert a backlash from Fatah's old-guard and heavily-armed clans now on the payroll. One European diplomat compared it to decommissioning. "It's not cheap," said another diplomat briefed on the numbers. "But the price of this end-game is not that relevant. What is important is how you get there?How many people should be paid this year? How many people should be retired this year?" he said. Though a main driving force behind Abbas' security overhaul, the United States, which according to Congressional estimates spends more than $11 billion a month on the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, has been slow to deliver funds. U.S.-taxpayer money for advanced training in Jordan started arriving last fall, nearly two-and-a-half years after Washington first dispatched a team to help coordinate Palestinian security. The first battalion - nearly 700 U.S.-vetted recruits - began a four-month, $15 million course last month. The training program is projected to graduate only 2,000 of Abbas' men in 2008, Bush's timeframe for a statehood deal. Though the Quartet's Middle East envoy Tony Blair declared this week that the capabilities of Abbas' forces have "significantly" improved, Israeli officials insist that they have a long way to go, citing Monday's suicide bombing in southern Israel. Abbas' West Bank-based government and many Western observers blame Israel for undermining the president's security push by continuing to conduct raids in the West Bank and by preventing equipment like body armor from reaching Abbas' men. Israel has yet to fulfill its own commitments under the long-stalled "road map" peace plan to halt all Jewish settlement activity and to uproot outposts in the West Bank. Related articles: Palestinian forces enter Jordan for training under U.S. program U.S. chides Israel for curbing Palestinian security forces Top U.S. diplomat: PA security forces have improved order in Nablus Bookmark to del.icio.us   All in the family Tel Aviv municipality moves to retain contract with Gaza City as 'twin city.' Pining for a leader A documentary examines Ariel Sharon's motive for the Gaza disengagement.   1.   End the Occupation, Save US Tax $ 18:36  |  El-Birawi 09/02/08   2.   $7 billion?? A better estimate: How about NOT ONE CENT! 19:02  |  Dr. L. Brnd 09/02/08   3.   Shut down hospitals, schools and employ every one 19:14  |  El-Birawi 09/02/08   4.   Who believes 19:36  |  Paul 09/02/08   5.   $ 7,000,000,000 Not Gonna Happen This Year 19:36  |  Gary Pineda 09/02/08   6.   I will only be willing to support it when the Rabbis STOP cursing 20:05  |  their neighbors 09/02/08   7.   Where are the Billions of Dollars given to Arafat? 20:27  |  Cristo 09/02/08   8.   that alotta shekels 20:47  |  Potash Katiftof 09/02/08   9.   Instead of cursing them, they should be praying for their 20:56  |  UseCommonSense 09/02/08   10.   Terrorists Have No Legal Right To Demand Sanctuary. Anywhere. 21:13  |  Joseph . E 09/02/08   11.   Arrest Olmert who Allowed $86M from US to Fund Terror PLO-PA 21:35  |  Joseph . E 09/02/08   12.   Arrest the US Gang that wired $86M from US to Fund Terror PLO-PA 21:36  |  Joseph . E 09/02/08   13.   They`re In Violation of Israel Order of Terror Prevention . 21:40  |  Joseph . E 09/02/08   14.   Israel`s PM Olmert is being blackmailed, 21:49  |  Joseph . E 09/02/08   15.   How Your Politicians Get Owned 21:59  |  Joseph . E 09/02/08   16.   7 billion $ = 23:56  |  alan 09/02/08   17.   Living in fantasy land 00:04  |  Mark Lincoln 10/02/08   18.   Wasted funds; most will end up in the Swiss account of Abbas 03:03  |  Figaro 10/02/08   19.   Prevent anything that woul;d allow the PA to be 06:59  |  a true partner! 10/02/08   20.   # 6 Gary, Your`e more than right. 14:58  |  Petra 10/02/08   21.   #13 JosephE. No Sanction for terrorists. 23:29  |  Maureen Ann 10/02/08

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