| Israel will retain security control of the northern West Bank after it evacuates four isolated Jewish settlements in the area next month, Israel Radio said yesterday after a ministerial debate on the issue. The reported decision, certain to disappoint Palestinians, appeared to be a departure from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's withdrawal plan, which says Israel will evacuate "all military installations" in the area and redeploy outside. Under Sharon's plan to "disengage" from conflict with the Palestinians, Israel intends to begin evacuating all 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and four of 120 in the West Bank beginning in mid-August. Israeli officials said the Defense Ministry had recommended to Sharon's security Cabinet, which met yesterday, that Israeli forces retain security control of territory around the four West Bank settlements and keep existing military bases in the area. |