Sharon rallies support for evacuation plan

Charly Wegman, Jerusalem

"Mr Sharon has met today with (foreign minister) Silvan Shalom and should meet in the days to come with other Likud ministers to explain the principles” behind his disengagement plan, said Assaf Shariv.

Hard-right members of Sharon’s governing coalition have threatened to quit in protest at his plans to pull Jewish settlers out of most of Gaza as part of a package of unilateral measures intended to make up for the lack of progress in the Middle East peace process. Mr Shalom is understood to be opposed to the Gaza pullout on the grounds that it would encourage Palestinian attacks, but his portfolio would be particularly vulnerable if the opposition Labour party replaced hardliners in the coalition.

Mr Shariv added that Mr Sharon would hold talks today with Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Limor Livnat, who are seen as two of his most likely successors.

Meetings have also been arranged for Thursday with Agriculture Minister Israel Katz and Minister with Portfolio Uzi Landau, the two Likud ministers most opposed to his proposals.

Palestinian premier Ahmed Qorei, on a visit to Cairo yesterday, welcomed the prospect of the Gaza settlements being uprooted but said such a move should only be a first step. “But, to be clear, this must be a step toward dismantling settlements in the West Bank,” Mr Qorei said.

“It’s about a single process: peace for land, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.”

Mr Qorei also expressed hope that a much-talked of summit with Sharon would take place “before the end of February”.

Senior US officials were expected here later this week to discuss the disengagement plan as well as plans to reroute Israel’s controversial West Bank separation barrier closer to the territory's borders, reports said.

The Maariv daily said the aim was to secure US support for the annexation of Jewish settlements in the West Bank which will eventually lie on the Israeli side of the barrier. The major settlements of Ariel and Maale Adumim are expected to fall on the Israeli side of the barrier when it is completed next year.

Israel insists the barrier is essential for its security, but the Palestinians see it as little more than a land grab.

The legality of the barrier is to be the subject of a hearing before the International Court of Justice in The Hague which is due to begin on February 23.