Israel to keep hold of six West Bank settlement blocs: minister


AFP
 Date: 08-15-05

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel intends to keep control of six West Bank settlement blocs in a final peace deal with the Palestinians, Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said a few hours after the start of the historic operation to leave Gaza.

"The settlement blocs in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and the Jordan valley will remain under Israeli control," Mofaz told army radio.

Mofaz singled out the communities of Maale Adumim and Gush Etzion which are both close to Jerusalem, three areas in the northern West Bank and the settlement of Efrat near Bethlehem.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has argued that his plan to withdraw the 8,000 settlers from Gaza will enable Israel to maintain control over parts of the West Bank where the vast majority of the 245,000 settlers live.

Speaking of the operation to uproot the Gaza settlers, Mofaz said it was an extremely painful process but said it was vital that laws passed in parliament be respected.

"The state has decided and now it is the time to carry out that decision," said Mofaz. "This is breaking our hearts but it is vital for the future of the democratic state of Israel."

The disengagement operation formally began at midnight when the continued presence of settlers in Gaza was made illegal.

Soldiers and police were knocking on doors Monday morning, giving remaining settlers 48 notices to leave of their own accord or face being forcibly evacuated at the end of a 38-year occupation.

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