WASHINGTON – Israel’s ambassador to the U.S Danny Ayalon said that reports claiming the World Bank might buy all 8,000-settler homes if the evacuation is coordinated with the Palestinians, are incorrect.
Ayalon, who was present at the meeting between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, said the two did not so much as even mention settler homes in their conversation.
Ayalon further emphasized that Wolfowitz’s new position, as President of the World Bank, was not discussed during his meeting with Sharon.
Buying settler homes to prevent anarchy
The original reports claimed that Sharon, who visited U.S. President George W. Bush at his Texas ranch on Monday, said selling the private houses of the 8,000 Gaza settlers to the World Bank could help avoid their looting by Palestinians after Israel’s pullout from all 21 settlements, set to start in July.
But the prime minister has said the pullout will be unilateral unless Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas dismantles terrorist groups, as required by the U.S.-backed “road map” peace plan.
"I've known him for many years and there is no doubt he represents a departure from Yasser Arafat's strategy of terror," a senior Israel official quoted Sharon as saying.
"But he must take additional steps to dismantle terrorist organizations and stop incitement or we can't move forward from the pre-road map stage," Sharon said.
Sharon said he and Wolfowitz would continue discussing the possible sale ahead of the withdrawal.
The World Bank has said economic recovery in Gaza would be plausible only if the Israeli army eases restrictions in the territory and if the Palestinian Authority carries out security and government reforms and acts to stop attacks against Israelis.
The group, which donates about USD 1 billion, or USD 350 per person, in aid to the Palestinian Authority every year, said nearly half of all 1.3 million Palestinians in Gaza live under the poverty line.
U.S. pleased with proposal
Following pressure by the United States, the prime minister said last week that Israel would not demolish settler homes in all 21 settlements in Gaza after the pullout, while synagogues and Jewish graves would be moved into Israel.
The U.S. State Department, who has urged Israel to coordinate its disengagement plan with Abbas, said the pullout was a “very important opportunity” for the Palestinians.
“We were pleased to hear the prime minister yesterday say that he did want to coordinate,” State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters on Tuesday. “And the President said that he hoped the Palestinians accept the proposal to coordinate the withdrawal.”
First published: 13:52, 04.13.5