The Sunday Times writes that Shimon Peres feels that Sharon will "eventually be prepared to withdraw from more West Bank land than the small amount designated in his disengagement plan." Peres is on the verge of leading his party into a unity government with the Likud which will give Peres a major say in diplomatic affairs.
Asked if he could work with Sharon towards the same objective as he did with Yitzhak Rabin, Peres replied, “I hope so.” He explained to the Times that Sharon has "accepted the vision of President Bush which includes the declaration of a Palestinian state,” and that such a state cannot be created with the presence of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. The logical conclusion, according to Peres and the Times, is that Sharon agrees that "tens of thousands of Jewish residents" in Judea and Samaria must be expelled from their homes.
The question of the future of Judea and Samaria has been a point of contention between the Likud and Labor since Israel liberated these areas during the Six-Day War in 1967. The disagreement has largely been overlooked, though, in the drive to form a national unity government between the two parties. Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud) alluded to it in an interview with Voice of Israel this morning, and said that the Likud must be on guard to ensure that Labor's position does not win the day.
"Mr. Peres is already looking beyond the disengagement from Gaza," Netanyahu said, "towards a return to the 1967 borders and the division of Jerusalem. Labor has apparently not learned very much from the dismal failure of Oslo. In any event, the Likud will have to stand very strongly on its principles, namely, no return to 1967 borders and no division of Jerusalem."
Netanyahu may be waging a losing battle. As reported on Arutz-7 last week, there have been other indications that Sharon and the U.S. do not plan to stop in Gaza. Elliot Abrams, director of the U.S. National Security Council Middle East section, told American Jewish leaders in Washington not long ago that the US demands that Israel evacuate and abandon all Jewish communities behind the anti-terror partition fence. "It's clear to us that in the end, the settlements on the other side of the partition will be dismantled," Abrams said. He explained that the Americans will support Israel's retention of "settlement blocs" only if Israel uproots everything else in the Biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria.
Close colleagues of Ariel Sharon indicate that the Prime Minister shares these positions. Former Herzliya Mayor Eli Landau told Arutz-7 over three months ago that Sharon's withdrawal plan "would eventually take Israel all the way back to the anti-terrorism partition fence." Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well, has been saying for a year that Israel will have to withdraw from many areas in Judea and Samaria.
MK Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party) told Arutz-7 today, "It's totally obvious that if he can, Sharon will continue withdrawing from more and more areas." He noted that residents of Gush Katif and northern Shomron are purposely being directed only to the Galilee and the Negev, and not to other areas of Judea and Samaria.
Asked if he could work with Sharon towards the same objective as he did with Yitzhak Rabin, Peres replied, “I hope so.” He explained to the Times that Sharon has "accepted the vision of President Bush which includes the declaration of a Palestinian state,” and that such a state cannot be created with the presence of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. The logical conclusion, according to Peres and the Times, is that Sharon agrees that "tens of thousands of Jewish residents" in Judea and Samaria must be expelled from their homes.
The question of the future of Judea and Samaria has been a point of contention between the Likud and Labor since Israel liberated these areas during the Six-Day War in 1967. The disagreement has largely been overlooked, though, in the drive to form a national unity government between the two parties. Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud) alluded to it in an interview with Voice of Israel this morning, and said that the Likud must be on guard to ensure that Labor's position does not win the day.
"Mr. Peres is already looking beyond the disengagement from Gaza," Netanyahu said, "towards a return to the 1967 borders and the division of Jerusalem. Labor has apparently not learned very much from the dismal failure of Oslo. In any event, the Likud will have to stand very strongly on its principles, namely, no return to 1967 borders and no division of Jerusalem."
Netanyahu may be waging a losing battle. As reported on Arutz-7 last week, there have been other indications that Sharon and the U.S. do not plan to stop in Gaza. Elliot Abrams, director of the U.S. National Security Council Middle East section, told American Jewish leaders in Washington not long ago that the US demands that Israel evacuate and abandon all Jewish communities behind the anti-terror partition fence. "It's clear to us that in the end, the settlements on the other side of the partition will be dismantled," Abrams said. He explained that the Americans will support Israel's retention of "settlement blocs" only if Israel uproots everything else in the Biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria.
Close colleagues of Ariel Sharon indicate that the Prime Minister shares these positions. Former Herzliya Mayor Eli Landau told Arutz-7 over three months ago that Sharon's withdrawal plan "would eventually take Israel all the way back to the anti-terrorism partition fence." Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well, has been saying for a year that Israel will have to withdraw from many areas in Judea and Samaria.
MK Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party) told Arutz-7 today, "It's totally obvious that if he can, Sharon will continue withdrawing from more and more areas." He noted that residents of Gush Katif and northern Shomron are purposely being directed only to the Galilee and the Negev, and not to other areas of Judea and Samaria.