‘Outposts are next’
Sharon advisor Dov Weisglass says ‘we stand behind our commitments to the Americans; Netanyahu: Jordan Valley to remain Isaeli forever
After the disengagement the government will formulate an organized plan for the evacuation of Jewish outposts in the territories, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s special advisor Dov Weisglass said Thursday.
“We promised the Americans we would evacuate the outposts and we hoped we could count on the Yesha Council, but it is not assisting us,” he said during a “Disengagement and National Security” conference held at Tel Aviv University.
“We stand behind our commitments to the Americans, but here there is a limit to what is required and what is feasible. How many traumas can one government, one army, and one police force sustain at once?”
Weisglass added that in today’s atmosphere the evacuation of outposts may bring about “Very difficult situations.”
Road Map progress subject to Palestinian actions
He said that until the evacuation of outposts commences, the government would focus on changing the legal infrastructure needed to ensure obligations made to the U.S. are met, alluding to the enlarged sanctions imposed on settlers who set up illegal outposts.
Weisglass also addressed the Palestinian refugees issue, saying, “The refugees’ relocation should be conducted only within the boundaries of the Palestinian state.”
He said Israel would move on to the Road Map’s third phase, in which permanent agreement issues are set to be discussed, “only after it would be determined that a Palestinian state in its temporary boundaries is functioning as expected.”
During a press conference held after his Washington meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, U.S. President George W. Bush said Israel must Israel must "remove unauthorized outposts and stop settlement expansions."
'Jordan Valley vital'
The Yesha Council said in a statement in light of Weisglass’ comments “Just like the Palestinians, the prime minister views the flight from the Gaza Strip only as the beginning.”
“The uprooting of one Jewish settlement in Israel would serve as a dangerous precedent that will advance like an avalanche, get out of control and bury us all,” the statement said.
Peace Now said in a statement “Weisglass should present the public with an exact schedule for the evacuation of outposts, just as was done with the disengagement plan.”
Netanyahu: no Palestinian state
Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday “The Jordan Valley is vital to Israel and serves as the country’s eastern defense wall.”
“The Jordan Valley will remain under Israeli control forever,” he said during a visit to the area.
“The world should wake up to the facts established by outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon and Shin Bet heads: Hamas is forming an army here. They do not recognize Israel. There is no Luxemburg here, there is no Palestinian state, but a collection of armed gangs that aspire to annihilate Israel,”
Regarding the Sharon-Abbas meeting scheduled for June 21, Netanyahu said “I hope Sharon will say to him ‘enough with the talk, it is time for action’.”
