[dmm]

In 1999, the adult population of the Palestinian territories was 1.4 million. Let's say that there are 2 million today. The average wage is about 5000 US$. (source: UNSCO report) So giving every adult a full year's wage would cost $10B. At the risk of sounding like an "ugly American" again, I wonder how many years worth of wages it would take to pay most Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territory to emigrate and never come back? Of course, some people wouldn't leave even for 10 years of wages, but most probably would, and that's "only" $100B. Considering that Bush has been authorized to spend $40B to combat terrorism, I wonder if simple bribery wouldn't be cheaper? Maybe it's my immigrant roots, but I'd leave the US for some other English-speaking country if someone paid my wife and I 20 years worth of wages. What about the rest of you? Am I a money-grubbing, disloyal, ugly American slimeball, or would some of you emigrate with me? And what about Palestinians? Is this plan insane, or stupid, or inspired?