Herb Keinon, THE JERUSALEM POST  Jul. 21, 2005

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met early Friday morning with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at his ranch, during a whirlwind trip to the area in an attempt to "save" the delicate situation in the area from deteriorating.
The talks between Sharon and Rice centered on both the run-up to disengagement, as well as "the day after." One of the issues to be discussed, a source close to Sharon said, would be Israel's request for $2.2 billion in US aid over the next four years to pay for development in the Negev and Galilee and for moving the IDF bases out of Gaza.
Following the meeting, Sharon and Rice enjoyed breakfast with their delegations, after which Sharon led Rice on a tour of his ranch.

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The planned date for the withdrawal from all 21 Gaza settlements and four in the West Bank was postponed from July 20, ostensibly out of consideration for the religious Jews observing a three-week mourning period, beginning on Sunday, for the destruction of the biblical Jewish temples.
A decision to demolish the synagogues and religious schools in the evacuated settlements is bound to antagonise further the 9,000 settlers who are due to leave Gaza, especially since Mr Sharon had originally ordered that the buildings be dismantled and brought to Israel.
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