JERUSALEM/WEST BANK/GAZA STRIP: Israeli cabinet meets as news breaks of Olmert seeking unilateral West Bank withdrawals

Record ID: 836821

  • Title: JERUSALEM/WEST BANK/GAZA STRIP: Israeli cabinet meets as news breaks of Olmert seeking unilateral West Bank withdrawals
  • Date: 5th March 2006
  • Summary: PALESTINIAN TOWN NEAR ISRAELI SETTLEMENT OF PSAGOT
  • Embargoed: 20th March 2006 12:00
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  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8Y2GOK0TYDEIGNVNWSGI5PZ9O
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  • Story Text: Ehud Olmert convened a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday (March 5) as news emerged that the interim Israeli Prime Minister is planning a unilateral withdrawal from some settlements in the occupied West Bank if he wins a March 28 general election, political sources said.
    Olmert would likely seek the backing of the United States before acting on the proposal, which envisions removing some isolated settlements from land Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East War and which Palestinians want for a state.
    Under the plan, settlers would be relocated to major settlement blocs, but Israel would not withdraw militarily from the land as it did last year from the Gaza Strip, political sources told Reuters.
    Olmert has long mooted the idea of a West Bank pullout and stressed his determination to set permanent borders for the Jewish state, but the plan floated on Sunday gave more details of specifics than in the past.
    Surveys show that most Israelis would favour such a withdrawal and the release of details could help strengthen Olmert's Kadima party, which has recently lost some of its big lead in opinion polls.
    Palestinians have reacted warily to suggestions that Israel would act unilaterally, fearing it would deny them a viable state. Jewish ultranationalists are furious at the prospect of giving up land they see as a biblical birthright.
    Political sources said the plan, details of which appeared in Israeli media, was still only being discussed in private.
    Israeli officials see the victory of Hamas Islamists in a Palestinian election as further incentive to unilateral moves rather than negotiations as well as increasing the chance that such a move could win diplomatic acceptance.
    But it was unclear whether a go-alone plan would immediately gain the backing of the Bush administration, which has called for Israel and the Palestinians to implement a stalled "road map" peace plan.
    The "road map" sets out steps for both sides as part of a negotiated settlement. Neither has met its commitments.
    Political sources said Olmert saw little chance of success in pursuing the "road map" with a Palestinian Authority run by Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel.
    Both Israel and the United States have said they will not hold negotiations with Hamas, which is in the process of forming the next Palestinian government.
    But Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mark Regev on Sunday emphasised Israel's commitment to the road map, blaming the newly-elected Hamas party for not meeting its obligations nor recognising Israel.
    "Israel is committed to the road map, and I think our actions over the last few weeks in taking down illegal construction in the West Bank demonstrates clearly our commitment to the roadmap, and how serious we take our road map commitments. Of course the whole international community today has to deal with the fact that the incoming Palestinian leadership says that the roadmap is illegitimate - says that they reject the road map - and this is a problem for Israel and for everyone who wants to see peace in the Middle East," Regev said.
    Criticising the proposals floated on Sunday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Israel's goal was to "force unilateral measures and create new facts on the ground."
    "The Israeli occupation never implemented the road map and had many excuses to avoid it. The road map was not recognised by Israel form the start for it to be used today as an excuse now. The statements of (Kadima member Avi) Dichter comes as a justification for the Israeli way of thought and their plans," Abu Zuhri said.
    Avi Dichter, a key adviser to Olmert seen as a possible future defence minister, said Olmert would draw up plans for a further West Bank withdrawal immediately after the poll, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily said.
    It quoted him as saying that Israel would retain security control of any evacuated settlements.
    Hamas, which has carried out almost 60 suicide bombings since a Palestinian uprising began in 2000, has largely abided by a year-long truce.
    Olmert has made clear he would not give up the two biggest Jewish settlements, Maale Adumim and Ariel, as well as the Gush Etzion bloc south of Jerusalem. Olmert also said he could not give up the Jordan Valley to the east for strategic reasons.
    The proposed withdrawal would be in line with what Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had suggested before he was incapacitated by a massive stroke on January 4.
    Addressing the cabinet, Olmert also referred to Friday's incident in which an Israeli man, his Christian wife and their daughter set off firecrackers in one of Christianity's holiest sites.
    The incident at the Church of the Annunciation in the city of Nazareth touched off brawls which media reports said left a dozen police and a dozen civilians injured and several police vehicles and an ambulance damaged.
    "This was an unfortunate incident which could have had extremely severe implications, and I am glad it ended the way it did," Olmert said.
    The Church of the Annunciation is built above a sunken grotto where, according to Roman Catholic tradition, the angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that she was to bear Jesus.
    Police said the motives in Friday's incident were personal, not political, but attacks on holy sites nearly always spark tensions in Israel whose Arab minority has been targeted in the past by extremists and often complains of discrimination.
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