Jerusalem — An Israeli daily on Monday quoted Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as saying the 17 Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip would eventually be dismantled.
Mr. Sharon, a major patron of the settlement movement throughout his political career, did not give a timetable, but his remarks appeared to be the most specific yet on the removal of settlements in the Gaza Strip.
The Haaretz daily reported on its Web site that Mr. Sharon was likely to go public with his plans later Monday. He was to address legislators from his Likud Party on Monday afternoon.
Haaretz columnist Yoel Marcus wrote that Mr. Sharon told him in an interview that “it is my intention to carry out an evacuation — sorry, a relocation — of settlements that cause us problems and of places that we will not hold onto anyway in a final settlement, like the Gaza settlements.”
“We are talking of a population of 7,500 people (in the Gaza settlements),” Haaretz quoted Mr. Sharon as saying. There are 17 settlements in Gaza.
Mr. Sharon did not say when the dismantling would begin but suggested it could take some time. The Prime Minister has said in the past that Israel would take unilateral steps, including removing settlements and imposing a boundary on the Palestinians, if there is no progress in peace efforts by the summer.
“It's not a simple matter,” Mr. Sharon was quoted as saying about the possible removal of Gaza settlements.
“We are talking of thousands of square kilometres of hothouses, factories and packing plants. People there who are third-generation. The first thing is to ask their agreement, to reach an agreement with the residents,” Mr. Sharon said.
“I am working on the assumption that in the future there will be no Jews in Gaza,” he added.
He said he would discuss the plan when he meets with U.S. President George W. Bush. Sharon aides have said the Prime Minister hopes to see Mr. Bush later this month, although U.S. officials have said no date has been set for a meeting.
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said no decision has been made on dismantling Gaza settlements, and that he opposes unilateral steps. “This subject has to come to cabinet decision and Knesset decision,” Mr. Shalom said.
Yossi Sarid, an Israeli opposition legislator, said he was skeptical. “As long as we don't see on the ground any attempt to dismantle even illegal (settlement) outposts, I suggest that we receive such comments ... with total disbelief,” Mr. Sarid said.
