Israeli Settlers Respond to Evacuation Threat With New Peace Initiative
By Julie Stahl
CNSNews.com Jerusalem Bureau Chief
November 26, 2003
Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) -
Israeli settlers afraid of the threat of being turned out of their homes as part of a peace agreement with the Palestinians are in the process of coming up with their own peace initiative to counteract left-wing proposals and U.S. pressure on Israel to dismantle Jewish communities in the West Bank and Gaza, as part of the U.S.-sponsored road map.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon touched off speculations that he intended to dismantle some Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip when he said that Israel was committed to the U.S.-sponsored road map peace plan and to its agreements with the Americans but did not "rule out unilateral steps."
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Asked later about what he meant by "unilateral steps" Sharon told cabinet ministers that his plan was not yet "fully formed" and that it would be submitted to the cabinet at the right time. He also said such a move would not "negate Israel's demand that the Palestinians fight terror, as detailed in the road map," a cabinet communique said.
Dr. Ron Breiman, spokesman for Professors for a Strong Israel, which describes itself as a non-partisan organization of academics united in a common concern for the security and the Jewish character of Israel, said he hoped that Sharon does not intend to dismantle settlements.
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Those reports have indicated the "Iron Wall" as it has been called would block the establishment of a Palestinian state by proposing a bi-national state, eventually granting citizenship to all Palestinians, with some special considerations in things like voting in order to retain the Jewish character of the state no matter what the demographic equation would be.
It also would involve the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, some reports said.
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