Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the relocation of army bases may cost some NIS 1.5 billion (about US$300 million), Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon said on Tuesday. 

Ya'alon told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the relocation of forces and army bases will continue into 2006, local newspaper Ha'aretz's website reported.

Under the disengagement plan approved by the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel is due to complete its withdrawal from Gaza by the end of 2005.

Ya'alon's comments that Israel could conceivably withdraw from the Golan Heights in the north under an agreement with Syria were also raised during Tuesday's meeting.

Ya'alon told the panel that his comments should not be misinterpreted as him supporting a withdrawal from the Golan.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2004)