Gaza Plan May Bring Palestinian State-Sharon Aide

Gaza Plan May Bring Palestinian State-Sharon Aide

Reuters
Date: 12-16-04

By Mark Heinrich

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites)'s chief of staff on Thursday called a Gaza withdrawal plan a possible step toward a Palestinian state, in a clear sign of softening following Yasser Arafat (news - web sites)'s death.

Just two months ago, Dov Weisglass had described the plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip (news - web sites) next year as a maneuver to bypass statehood talks with Palestinians and seal Israel's grip on the occupied West Bank indefinitely.

"Arafat's passing has created a completely different situation," Weisglass, Sharon's top adviser, said.

Palestinians had condemned Weisglass's earlier message and the United States -- main sponsor of a stalled "road map" peace plan -- demanded clarification. Sharon hastily reaffirmed support for the road map but critics saw this as lip service.

However, the Nov. 11 death of Arafat, shunned by Washington and Israel for allegedly orchestrating bloodshed, has favored the emergence of moderate Palestinian successors ready to make a clearer stand against violence.

It has been hailed worldwide as a new, golden opportunity for peacemaking.

Weisglass, addressing an influential annual security gathering, repeated Israel's demand that Palestinians subdue armed militants before any talks can begin.

But departing from his controversial message in October, he described Sharon's initiative to pull settlers and soldiers out of Gaza as a step that could encourage negotiations rather than one to impose a solution.

"Our disengagement plan is not a final political plan or the last step. It is one step ahead, and if things develop the way we want, we can continue. If not, we can stop," Weisglass told the Herzliya Conference.

"TURNING POINT" FOR PALESTINIANS

"The plan does not deal with (the West Bank) at the moment. But if it is successful (in Gaza), with Palestinians taking responsibility and self-control, turning Gaza from a chaotic jungle to something organized, then at least we'll know there is a possibility to talk ... about a state," he said.

"Even if Palestinians have not yet digested the significance of this challenge, the world has ... For the first time Palestinians will be able to shape their own fate without an Israeli presence. This is a turning point for them.

"It's a test that will have far-reaching significance regarding ideas ... for a final permanent treaty."

In remarks likely to reinforce Palestinian fears that talks might not produce what they would see as a viable state, though, Weisglass said a barrier Israel is building in the West Bank would link tens of thousands of Jewish settlers to Israel.

Israel has continued to expand some settlements in the West Bank, relying on a pledge from President Bush (news - web sites) that it would not be expected under any peace deal to cede all of the land it captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

Sharon was to close the Herzliya Conference, a yearly forum of Israeli and foreign policymakers and experts, with a keynote address later on Thursday.

At last year's gathering, Sharon stunned fellow right wingers by announcing his initiative to break a long bloody stalemate with Palestinians in revolt by withdrawing from some land.

Weisglass caused an outcry in October when he said the Gaza plan "supplies the formaldehyde necessary ... to freeze the peace process ... so that this whole package called a Palestinian state is removed indefinitely from our agenda."

Israel has welcomed statements this month by Mahmoud Abbas, favorite to succeed Arafat as president in a Jan. 9 election, urging Palestinians to shelve what he called counterproductive violence in favor of talks for statehood.

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