MAALEH ADUMIM, West Bank (AP) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Monday named five large West Bank settlement blocs he wants to keep as part of his final peace plan - then flew to Washington win President Bush's support for the "disengagement" effort.
Sharon appeared to confirm Palestinian fears that Israel plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and four smaller West Bank settlements in order to strengthen its hold over other parts of the West Bank. Sharon's wants to "strengthen and develop" the five blocs, putting his plan at odds with the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan which calls for an Israeli settlement freeze ahead of negotiations on a final peace deal.
| And these might not be the only blocks of the West Bank Sharon will work to keep. |
Bush said Monday that he would welcome a Gaza withdrawal as a "positive development," but it appears unlikely the U.S. president will meet Israel's request - a U.S. declaration that Israel can keep part of the West Bank in a final peace deal with the Palestinians.
According to senior Israeli government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Sharon and Bush will exchange letters at their Wednesday meeting, outlining commitments to the withdrawal plan and to the road map. Sharon's letter will say that Israel will pull out of all 21 Gaza Strip settlements and four isolated West Bank enclaves, the officials said. In exchange, Bush will say Israel has a right to "pursue terrorists," including in areas from which it has pulled out, the officials said.
Sharon visited Maaleh Adumim, the West Bank's largest settlement with 30,000 residents. Sharon was attending celebrations marking the end of the weeklong Jewish holiday of Passover. Sharon told about 500 people gathered in a Bedouin-style tent that in giving up Gaza and parts of the West Bank, Israel would gain security and be able to keep large settlement blocs. "Only an Israeli initiative will assure the future of the large settlement blocs and the security zones, like a strong Maaleh Adumim, a strong Ariel, a strong Givat Zeev, a strong Etzion bloc - places that will remain under Israeli control, will continue to be strengthened and developed, and I also add a strong Hebron and Kiryat Arba," he said.
| Those screws tight enough, Yasser? |
It marked the first time Sharon detailed which settlements he wants to keep in a final peace deal. Asked what would happen to the other West Bank settlements - there are 140 altogether - Sharon aide Raanan Gissin said their fate would be determined in peace talks. Givat Zeev, Maaleh Adumim and the Etzion bloc are north, east and south of Jerusalem, respectively. Ariel, Kiryat Arba and the tiny settler enclaves in Hebron are deep in the West Bank, and their annexation by Israel would make it difficult to create a Palestinian state with contiguous territory.
Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said that "settlements in the West Bank are just as illegal as those in Gaza." If Israel tries to annex part of the West Bank, "we will not get to peace and not to security," Erekat said.
| Not that you'll give the Israelis peace and security anyways. Thanks for playing. |
Sharon portrayed his disengagement plan as a "mortal blow" for the Palestinians, and said he hoped it would spur them into action, including restraining militants. "When they see it as the end of their dreams, then perhaps they will take the necessary steps," he said.
| Warts and all, Sharon's got it figured out. |
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