http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20417764.htm<snip>
WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - In a rare break with Israel, the White House is likely to start making small deductions from a $9 billion package of U.S. loan guarantees for the cost of construction of a barrier through some Palestinian areas, people close to the deliberations said on Thursday.
White House officials insisted no decisions had been made about any deductions for the Israeli barrier. But congressional sources said the first deductions could be announced as early as next week and could top $220 million. Additional cuts could be made from future loan installments.
Critics of the proposed deductions say they would be so small as to have no impact on construction of the barrier, which Israel says it is building to prevent Palestinian militants from entering Israeli territory and launching attacks.
Palestinians describe it as a new "Berlin Wall" that grabs territory and reflects an attempt to create a political border.