WASHINGTON, July 11 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States on Monday denied reports by Israeli media that Israel is asking an aid of some 2 billion dollars from the United States for its pullout fromthe Gaza Strip and parts of West Bank.

    "I'm not aware of any specific requests that have been made," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said at a briefing.

    Casey said a senior official of Israeli Ministry of Finance is visiting Washington this week, but the purpose of the visit has nothing to do with the reported request of aid.

    "It's true that the Israeli director general for the Ministry of Finance is going to be in Washington this week, but the principal purpose of those discussions here is to talk about development in the Negev and Galilee regions of Israel," he said.

    "And we'll certainly be interested in hearing what the Israeli government has to say on this, but as far as I'm aware, there has been no request made, and -- certainly can't respond to anything we haven't heard yet," he added.

    Israel is due to start its pullout from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank in August. The United States has hailed theIsraeli move as an opportunity for peace between Israel and Palestine. Enditem