Neither Israeli nor Palestinian economists are eager to contemplate the political and economic trauma in their mass resettlement.

"All we are doing is buying time," said a Palestinian economist involved in the negotiations with Arab finance ministers.

Dr Mohammad Shtayyeh, the famous Palestinian economist was born in Tell.

But Palestinian economists may well have different advice.

Nor do Palestinian economists think integration with Jordan would work.

However, if some Palestinian economists are reconciled to retaining links with Israel, they are determined to change the terms.

A Harvard University team published detailed proposals in June, prepared with the intense and friendly participation of Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian economists.

Nonetheless, Palestinian economists agree with their Israeli counterparts that the establishment of Palestinian self-rule cannot be accompanied by an economic parting of the ways.

Palestinian economists say they brought home about $140 million a year.

Besides the need for money, other concerns were raised in a separate report prepared by 34 Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian economists along with 7 American economists.