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Cohen has in the past located apartments in Israel for Palestinian collaborators from the West Bank.

"I was approached two months ago by officials from the Defense Ministry who told me that they had been ordered by the prime minister to launch plans in preparation of the June withdrawal," Cohen said.

"The officials asked me to come up with ideas and a week later returned and told me to find out how many empty apartments I could find for a temporary period starting in June."

Cohen wasted no time, setting up a seven-person team to begin scouting the country. He also flew to Antalya, Turkey, to meet with local officials regarding a recently completed complex of unoccupied apartments.

Three weeks later, the Israeli officials returned and Cohen told them of his idea regarding Antalya. A week after that, the officials told him the Turkey plan had been rejected, out of concern over how providing housing outside of Israel for SLA members and their families would affect Israel's image.

"I told them that it would cost a third of what it would cost in Israel, but they turned it down," he said.

When the deals are finalized, Cohen said, the apartment owners will receive six months' rent in advance. He added that if for some reason the deal falls through — if, for example, the IDF does not withdraw — the owners will be allowed to keep the payments.

The apartments are located in Jewish areas, but recently several Christian Arab villages also informed Cohen of their willingness to assist the SLA families.

"Officials told me that it is important that the apartments be in areas where they can provide the families with all the necessary social and religious facilities and assistance," Cohen said.

"Israel cannot afford not to assist these families — even if there is no withdrawal, it is Israel's moral obligation."