JERUSALEM, April 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Tuesday he is going to Washington to seek US financial aid for the pullout plan.

   Peres told Army Radio that he will meet US Vice President Dick Cheney and other administration officials to ask them for assistance to the pullout plan.

   "The essence of the issue is to coordinate the financial aspect of the Gaza withdrawal," Peres said, adding he will discuss " distribution of resources ... and to see what can be done to get US assistance for the development of the Negev and the Galilee."

   Peres said the money would also be used to develop the Negev Desert and the Galilee, but refused to say how much money Israel is seeking.

   Israel wants to relocate settlers scheduled for evacuation to these areas and is offering extra compensation to those who agree to move to the areas.

   An Israeli government official pointed out that if the US gives money to develop the Galilee and the Negev it would free up other Israeli resources to offer more compensation to the evacuated settlers, who say they are not getting enough compensation.

   One official close to the Bush administration said officials in Washington estimated Israel would request 500 million US dollars in aid, the Israeli Ha'aretz daily said.

   Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was expected to raise the issue during his upcoming meeting with US President George W. Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, said the US official.

   Israel has earmarked about 1 billion dollars budget for the withdrawal from all Gaza and four West Bank settlements, whereas the pullout could cost more once Israel finishes compensating the 9,000 evacuated settlers, moves its military installations and completes construction of the new fences and surveillance equipment it is putting along its border with Gaza. Enditem