However, even after Israeli withdrawal, Minister Olmert said, "we will continue to fight terror everywhere, at all times, in the day and at night… in every corner and without any restriction."
When asked to explain his position in favor of withdrawal in light of his recognition of the plan's ineffectiveness against terrorism, Olmert explained that Israel should withdraw (a) so as not to continue the status quo, (b) so that Israel minimizes as far as possible its contact with the Arab population of Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha), and (c) to combat negative overseas press coverage of Israeli activities among the Arab population in Yesha.
Minister Olmert said over the weekend that Israel should withdraw even if there is no understanding with the United States regarding the plan.
In the Voice of Israel interview, Minister Olmert also criticized Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom for publicly voicing opposition to the Prime Minister's plan, and expressed his doubts as to the ability of Foreign Minister Shalom to represent the position of the government while opposing it at the same time. "Of course the position of the Prime Minister is the position of the government," Olmert declared, even though the government has not yet held a formal vote on "disengagement".
As noted by Mr. Olmert, Foreign Minister Shalom expressed his position against any withdrawal from Gaza outside the framework of an agreement with a "partner" from the Palestinian Authority. Shalom made the comments during a heated debate with Minister Olmert at a meeting of Likud ministers in the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem last night.
Another Likud minister, Minister of Immigrant Absorption Tzippi Livni, proposed inviting foreign forces into Gaza in place of the IDF forces to be withdrawn under the "disengagement" plan. Prime Minister Sharon said, however, that he accepts the recommendation of the security services to leave IDF forces in place at least along the Philadelphi route, on the border of Egypt in Gaza.
When asked to explain his position in favor of withdrawal in light of his recognition of the plan's ineffectiveness against terrorism, Olmert explained that Israel should withdraw (a) so as not to continue the status quo, (b) so that Israel minimizes as far as possible its contact with the Arab population of Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha), and (c) to combat negative overseas press coverage of Israeli activities among the Arab population in Yesha.
Minister Olmert said over the weekend that Israel should withdraw even if there is no understanding with the United States regarding the plan.
In the Voice of Israel interview, Minister Olmert also criticized Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom for publicly voicing opposition to the Prime Minister's plan, and expressed his doubts as to the ability of Foreign Minister Shalom to represent the position of the government while opposing it at the same time. "Of course the position of the Prime Minister is the position of the government," Olmert declared, even though the government has not yet held a formal vote on "disengagement".
As noted by Mr. Olmert, Foreign Minister Shalom expressed his position against any withdrawal from Gaza outside the framework of an agreement with a "partner" from the Palestinian Authority. Shalom made the comments during a heated debate with Minister Olmert at a meeting of Likud ministers in the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem last night.
Another Likud minister, Minister of Immigrant Absorption Tzippi Livni, proposed inviting foreign forces into Gaza in place of the IDF forces to be withdrawn under the "disengagement" plan. Prime Minister Sharon said, however, that he accepts the recommendation of the security services to leave IDF forces in place at least along the Philadelphi route, on the border of Egypt in Gaza.