Israeli MPs approve billion-dollar compensation package for Gaza settlers
AFP
Date: 02-16-05
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel's planned pullout from the Gaza Strip (news - web sites) took a major step forward when MPs approved a billion-dollar compensation package for the 8,000 Jewish settlers who are to be uprooted from their homes.
Washington's newly appointed Middle East security coordinator, US General William Ward, meanwhile, held talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas at the start of a mission to the region.
A total of 59 Israeli MPs in the 120-seat Knesset voted for the evacuation-compensation bill in the third and final reading, while 40 voted against the government.
The vote followed a marathon debate which began on Tuesday, followed by separate votes on more than 100 amendments that lasted for several hours.
The bill will provide for the distribution of some 4.3 billion shekels (nearly one billion dollars) to the residents of Gaza and around 300 settlers in four small enclaves in the northern West Bank that will also be dismantled.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) vowed Tuesday that his flagship policy, which should see the 21 Gaza settlements evacuated by September, would not be derailed by extremists who have threatened his life and those of several ministers.
He also revealed that what was initially intended as a unilateral measure was now being coordinated with the Palestinians, without giving further details.
However, doubts about the seriousness of Sharon's intention to leave occupied Palestinian territory for the first time in history were raised Wednesday after the surprise decision to effectively dismiss the army chief of staff, General Moshe Yaalon.
The defence and political establishment was stunned by the announcement that Yaalon was not being offered a one-year extension to his three-year term, as is customary. His current posting is due to expire in five months' time.
Yaalon's departure will coincide with the standing down of Avi Dichter, head of the Shin Beth domestic intelligence agency.
While the decision was taken by Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz, it is understood that the move has the full backing of Sharon.
Labour MP Efraim Sneh said that the timing of Yaalon's departure just before the start of the pullout "endangers the prospects of the plan's success".
The Gaza pullout and the recent election of the moderate Abbas as Palestinian leader have raised hopes of a breakthrough in the peace process which had been in a quagmire.
A summit between Sharon and Abbas last week saw both men declare an end to four years of violence, although Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom warned on a visit to London Wednesday that a ceasefire might "blow up in our faces", renewing calls for Abbas to institute a crackdown on militant groups.
Abbas and Ward, Washington's new Middle East security coordinator, held around an hour-long meeting at the Palestinian leader's offices in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Palestinian Authority (news - web sites) spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said.
"We informed him of all the steps that the Palestinians are taking after the Sharm el-Sheikh summit," Abu Rudeina told reporters.
"General Ward said that the US administration was ready to help the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian people to build the security foundations, and that he would return in a few weeks for more talks."
A US embassy spokesman in Tel Aviv told AFP that Ward would be "spending approximately a week here, getting to know the lay of the land."
His appointment was announced last week by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) who said his brief would be to monitor compliance on both sides with their security commitments.
Meanwhile Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qorei announced he would submit a new cabinet for parliamentary approval next week.
"The composition of the government is in its final stage and will be presented to the legislative council for its approval next Tuesday," Qorei told reporters after a meeting of the dominant Fatah (news - web sites) faction's central committee.
While Qorei will continue to lead the government, up to eight of the 24 other ministers are likely to step aside or be sacked.
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