Sharon plans to remove all the Israeli Gaza Settlements?!

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2004-02-02 09:17am

Sharon: Gaza Settlements May Be Removed
6 minutes ago

By STEVE WEIZMAN, Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) told a Likud Party meeting Monday he plans to dismantle all 17 Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip (news - web sites), a participant said.

"He didn't say it would happen at once," said Yechiel Hazan, a Likud legislator who participated in the closed-door meeting. "He said it is possible there will be no more Jews in the Gaza Strip."

Did Sharon get a brain cell or something?

Shaidar Haran · Post by **Shaidar Haran** » 2004-02-02 10:00am

Politcal pressure from American and Europe. People have been seriously on him to actually make real concessions to the peace process. If nothing else he knows he has to look reasonable.

On the other hand, promises in the Middle East don't usually mean much.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-02-02 10:06am

Shaidar Haran wrote:Politcal pressure from American and Europe. People have been seriously on him to actually make real concessions to the peace process. If nothing else he knows he has to look reasonable.

On the other hand, promises in the Middle East don't usually mean much.

Agreed. Actions speak far louder then words.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-02-02 12:02pm

Good for him, though I'm sure he's really alienating alot of his more conservative supporters in Israel there. Hopefully, this will be a step toward a real peace agreement, but I'm not so sure yet. I'm not holding my breath, but here's hoping.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-02-02 12:05pm

He's full of shit. He will partially dismantle some of the settlements in order to make it appear as if he's serious about the peace process, while not lifting a finger to stop new settlements from being made at the very same time.

This has happened many times before.

Saurencaerthai · Post by **Saurencaerthai** » 2004-02-02 01:12pm

Shaidar Haran wrote: On the other hand, promises in the Middle East don't usually mean much.

Yup, just like all those cease-fire agreements...

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-02-02 03:23pm

Its actully an improvement for the right here.

Sharon has a hard time doing anything because of how the Knesset is set up this time, and because he will lose around 60% of his party if he makes more peace stuff, since the deal with Hizballah cost him alot of concessions.

beyond hope · Post by **beyond hope** » 2004-02-02 05:49pm

Would anyone like to get in the betting pool on how long it takes to find out they're putting up new ones while they tear the old ones down? From what I recall of the last time Sharon said this, the elapsed time between "we'll dismantle some settlements" and a leak of him saying "build more, but don't announce it" was perhaps a few hours.

EmperorSolo51 · Post by **EmperorSolo51** » 2004-02-02 06:25pm

I think Sharon should do this as it denies the terrorists in Gaza one more excuse to murder innocent Israelis. However, If he does this and the murders do not stop, This may force a no-confidence vote in the Knesset. This will likely be a backbench revolt led by Netanyanhu and it will force the Prime Minister to dissolve the government yet again and have a snap election.

Shaidar Haran · Post by **Shaidar Haran** » 2004-02-03 01:10am

Darth Wong wrote:He's full of shit. He will partially dismantle some of the settlements in order to make it appear as if he's serious about the peace process, while not lifting a finger to stop new settlements from being made at the very same time.

This has happened many times before.

Perhaps, perhaps not. If nothing else the Bush administration is pushing them pretty damn hard in order to get a real peace plan going. If they keep the pressure up and there aren't any suicide attacks it might really happen.

A few minor settlements elsewhere have been dismantled.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-02-03 01:24am

Shaidar Haran wrote:
Perhaps, perhaps not. If nothing else the Bush administration is pushing them pretty damn hard in order to get a real peace plan going.

Of course we can expect this from an administration whose attitude has been, as I see it, "My way or the highway."

Shaidar Haran · Post by **Shaidar Haran** » 2004-02-03 01:26am

JME2 wrote:Of course we can expect this from an administration whose attitude has been, as I see it, "My way or the highway."

Good to see you've got your Official Anti-Bush blinkers on.

Believe it or not, and I see it's not, the Bush administration has been putting pressure on Sharon to make real concessions and dismantle the settlements. Given that the US is capable of serious arm twisting of Israel Sharon will behave. And Bush is pretty well committed to making Israel see reason.

Whether the Palestinians launch more attacks and blow it is probably going to be the bigger factor.