Prime Minister Sharon met last night with defense-and-security leaders, including Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon, Shabak head Avi Dichter, and National Security Advisor Gen. Giora Eiland. On the agenda: Sharon's withdrawal/expulsion-from-Gaza plan.
Mofaz, who was among the first to support the plan, said that a withdrawal timeline should be publicized as a form of pressure on the Palestinian Authority to abandon terrorism and return to the negotiating process. The timeline would include such elements as Knesset legislation, compensation to the residents, and preparing residences for those to be made homeless.
Dichter said last week that he agrees with IDF Intelligence Chief Gen. Ze'evi-Farkash's opinion that the P.A. terrorist organizations interpret Sharon's offer to destroy the Jewish settlement enterprise in Gaza as their victory - and, as such, a catalyst for more terrorism. He is reported to have said last night, however, that Israel must prepare to leave Gaza as early as possible.
At the same time, however, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said in the Knesset today that the disengagement plan is far from actual execution. "There are at least two pre-conditions that Sharon promised that have not yet been carried out," said Shalom, who is known to oppose the plan. "The first is approval by the Cabinet and Knesset, and the second is coordination with the Americans - neither of which have happened." Other political sources in Jerusalem say that another delaying factor is the American elections, scheduled for November 2004 - before which such a sensitive issue as a withdrawal from Gaza cannot occur.
It was decided at last night's meeting that Israel must continue to control the route leading to Egypt, so as to prevent arms-smuggling. Israeli police in fact thwarted just such a smuggling attempt last night; one Arab was killed and another was injured in the operation, after which was found a cache of 20 Kalachnikov rifles freshly arrived from Egypt. It was also apparently decided to retain - at least for now - the three northern-Gaza communities - Nisanit, Dugit and Elei Sinai. Sharon is to meet with Bush Administration emissaries tomorrow.
Mofaz, who was among the first to support the plan, said that a withdrawal timeline should be publicized as a form of pressure on the Palestinian Authority to abandon terrorism and return to the negotiating process. The timeline would include such elements as Knesset legislation, compensation to the residents, and preparing residences for those to be made homeless.
Dichter said last week that he agrees with IDF Intelligence Chief Gen. Ze'evi-Farkash's opinion that the P.A. terrorist organizations interpret Sharon's offer to destroy the Jewish settlement enterprise in Gaza as their victory - and, as such, a catalyst for more terrorism. He is reported to have said last night, however, that Israel must prepare to leave Gaza as early as possible.
At the same time, however, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said in the Knesset today that the disengagement plan is far from actual execution. "There are at least two pre-conditions that Sharon promised that have not yet been carried out," said Shalom, who is known to oppose the plan. "The first is approval by the Cabinet and Knesset, and the second is coordination with the Americans - neither of which have happened." Other political sources in Jerusalem say that another delaying factor is the American elections, scheduled for November 2004 - before which such a sensitive issue as a withdrawal from Gaza cannot occur.
It was decided at last night's meeting that Israel must continue to control the route leading to Egypt, so as to prevent arms-smuggling. Israeli police in fact thwarted just such a smuggling attempt last night; one Arab was killed and another was injured in the operation, after which was found a cache of 20 Kalachnikov rifles freshly arrived from Egypt. It was also apparently decided to retain - at least for now - the three northern-Gaza communities - Nisanit, Dugit and Elei Sinai. Sharon is to meet with Bush Administration emissaries tomorrow.