Sharon considers delaying Gaza withdrawal

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today said he is considering delaying Israel’s planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this summer by three weeks after a top official said settlers shouldn’t be moved during a Jewish mourning period that marks the destruction of the biblical temples.

The announcement came as government officials confirmed Israel is planning to build 50 new homes in a West Bank settlement, a week after US President George Bush demanded a freeze on such construction.

Sharon told reporters he would discuss the possible delay in the Gaza pullout, which is currently scheduled to begin in late July, at a meeting with top ministers tomorrow.

Sharon stopped short of endorsing the change, but hinted he would support the delay out of respect for a three-week Jewish mourning period that culminates with Tisha B’Av, the date on the Jewish calendar marking the destruction of the biblical temples. Tisha B’av falls on August 14 this year.

The plan calls for removing 9,000 Israelis from all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four small settlements in the West Bank. Under the proposed change, the start of the four-week operation would be bumped back to August 15 from July 25.

Yonatan Bassi, who heads the administration responsible for compensating and relocating settlers slated for evacuation, suggested the delay at a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

In the 20 days before Tisha B’Av, observant Jews don’t shave, go to the beach, cut their hair, listen to music or get married, and many refrain from eating meat. Tisha B’Av itself is a fast day.

A standard compilation of Jewish law does not contain rules that forbid anything connected to the pull-out because of the mourning period, though some feel moving house is contrary to its spirit.

Until now, Sharon has refused calls to delay the pull-out.