Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, whom many consider to be Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's 'trial-balloon dispatcher,' told Army Radio today that Israel will retreat from many more Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria than those included in the Prime Minister's disengagement plan.
Olmert made the comments while touring the separation fence in the area near Modi'in, in central Israel. He assured reporters that, despite the fierce opposition to the Prime Minister's disengagement plan, the withdrawals from Gaza and parts of northern Samaria would indeed take place, and be but a prelude of things to come.
The Deputy Prime Minister's words are sure to rattle some supporters of the disengagement plan who believed previous claims that a withdrawal from Gaza would strengthen Israel's diplomatic position, ensuring that Jews could remain in Judea and Samaria.
Olmert implied that if the Prime Minister succeeded in carrying out the Gaza withdrawal, it would actually speed up the withdrawal process in Judea and Samaria. "The government is going to get rid of many settlements, and not just those willing to leave, in order to combat the daily disagreements with the nations of the world." Olmert was apparently referring to widely publicized statements by some members of the four northern Samaria communities (Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim and Kadim) expressing their desire to leave willingly and receive compensation.
Later, while touring the Samaria Jewish communities of Nili and Naaleh, Olmert assured reporters that changes would be made in the route of the separation fence to impinge less on the Palestinian Authority Arab population.
Olmert also stressed that Prime Minister Sharon would succeed in garnering the approval of the Likud Central Committee on Wednesday for bringing the Labor party into the coalition, in order to attain approval for the withdrawal plan. Many in the party's Central Committee, even those supporting the Prime Minister's policies, virulently oppose Labor joining the government. Sharon has already announced that the opinion of the Committee does not bind him to any particular course of action.
Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad (National Union) responded to Olmert's revelations saying he knew all along that Prime Minister Sharon was merely tricking people into supporting a limited withdrawal, while preparing to foist the next one upon them. "This is only the first course in the poisoned meal Sharon and Olmert intend on feeding the residents of Israel," Eldad said.
Olmert made the comments while touring the separation fence in the area near Modi'in, in central Israel. He assured reporters that, despite the fierce opposition to the Prime Minister's disengagement plan, the withdrawals from Gaza and parts of northern Samaria would indeed take place, and be but a prelude of things to come.
The Deputy Prime Minister's words are sure to rattle some supporters of the disengagement plan who believed previous claims that a withdrawal from Gaza would strengthen Israel's diplomatic position, ensuring that Jews could remain in Judea and Samaria.
Olmert implied that if the Prime Minister succeeded in carrying out the Gaza withdrawal, it would actually speed up the withdrawal process in Judea and Samaria. "The government is going to get rid of many settlements, and not just those willing to leave, in order to combat the daily disagreements with the nations of the world." Olmert was apparently referring to widely publicized statements by some members of the four northern Samaria communities (Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim and Kadim) expressing their desire to leave willingly and receive compensation.
Later, while touring the Samaria Jewish communities of Nili and Naaleh, Olmert assured reporters that changes would be made in the route of the separation fence to impinge less on the Palestinian Authority Arab population.
Olmert also stressed that Prime Minister Sharon would succeed in garnering the approval of the Likud Central Committee on Wednesday for bringing the Labor party into the coalition, in order to attain approval for the withdrawal plan. Many in the party's Central Committee, even those supporting the Prime Minister's policies, virulently oppose Labor joining the government. Sharon has already announced that the opinion of the Committee does not bind him to any particular course of action.
Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad (National Union) responded to Olmert's revelations saying he knew all along that Prime Minister Sharon was merely tricking people into supporting a limited withdrawal, while preparing to foist the next one upon them. "This is only the first course in the poisoned meal Sharon and Olmert intend on feeding the residents of Israel," Eldad said.