The Hindu : International : Sharon pushes for four-stage withdrawal from Gaza

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 29, 2004

International

International

Sharon pushes for four-stage withdrawal from Gaza

By Conal Urquhart

TEL AVIV, MAY 28. The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, has revealed a new plan for the evacuation of settlements in the Gaza Strip which could lead to a complete withdrawal from the territory by the end of next year.

Pressing ahead despite the opposition of the majority of his Likud party, he told Ministers that he wanted the withdrawal to take place in four incremental stages.

The Cabinet will vote on phase one this Sunday, possibly triggering the withdrawal from three Israeli settlements: Morag, Netzarim and Rafiah Yam.

According to preliminary drafts, he will then ask the Cabinet to approve a withdrawal from Ganim, Kadim, Homesh and Sa Nur, in the northern West Bank.

In the last two stages, he proposes withdrawal from the rest of Gush Qatif and Kfar Dorom, followed by the small northern Gaza settlements of Nisanit, Dugit and Ele Sinai.

Government sources said the plan could be changed before Sunday's vote.

Almost half the houses in Rafiah Yam are deserted and most of the settlers there are willing to leave.

Netzarim occupies an island in the middle of the Gaza Strip, just south-west of Gaza City, and Morag is a small settlement between Rafah and Khan Yunis. Both are near densely populated Palestinian areas and hard to defend, but the settlers there will be unwilling to leave their homes without a fight.

They realise that clearing one settlement would be a precedent which could facilitate the removal of many more in the future.

Much of Mr. Sharon's Cabinet is opposed to evacuating any settlements. Two of the Government coalition parties, the extreme rightwing National Union and the National Religious party, are opposed to any withdrawal, and many Likud Ministers object to Mr Sharon's intention to leave the settlements without receiving concessions from the Palestinians in return.

Corruption charges

Mr. Sharon has been strengthened this week by speculation that the attorney general, Menachem Mazuz, will not push for his prosecution on corruption charges arising out of recent investigations into his activities.

Mr Mazuz was said to believe that Mr Sharon had been engaged in dubious dealings, but felt there was not enough evidence to bring a conviction. — Guardian Newspaers Limited 2004

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