The fate of the approximately 2,000 structures in Gush Katif and northern Samaria will now be reconsidered by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his government. The last cabinet resolution on the matter, voted upon in June 2004, called for all buildings in Gush Katif and the northern Shomron to be demolished. However, recent inquiries by international businessmen and diplomats interested in the property have influenced the prime minister to reevaluate that decision.
Cabinet secretary Yisrael Maimon told IDF Radio on Tuesday that the possibility of reversing the June decision is due to the “recently started dialogue with the new Palestinian leadership." It has also been reported, however, that offers from Arab businessmen to purchase the land and homes of the Jews of Gush Katif have been received.
In recent days, Defense Ministry officials said that demolishing the buildings would present a negative image of Israel both at home and abroad. Ministry sources added that, in any event, removing the debris caused by the demolition would cost a huge sum of money, not currently available.
Environment Minister Shalom Simhon voiced opposition to the demolition of structures in Gush Katif as well, saying such a move would be highly damaging to the environment. "The demolition of homes in Gush Katif under the disengagement plan will cause severe damage to the environment and unprecedented damage to Israel's economy and public image," Simhon said.
Simhon also warned that the homes and the underground infrastructure might be made of asbestos and therefore constitute a threat to those exposed.
In addition to the debate over the Jewish homes in Gush Katif, Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres is preparing a plan to transfer Jewish-owned businesses, intact, to the Palestinian Authority. Peres' intention is to help the PA economy by means of expropriating the factories, greenhouses, machinery, product lines and marketing structures of Israelis in the Gaza region.
Peres reportedly raised the issue with PLO negotiator Saeb Erakat one and a half weeks ago. Peres is holding the first of a series of discussions on the plan at his office Wednesday. Attending the meeting will be the government's chief of operations for Judea, Samaria and Gaza, General Giora Eiland, who will present a working paper on improving the PA economy after an Israeli withdrawal. Part of the operations officer's report includes recommendations to assist the Arab side in opening a sea port on the Gaza coast and other infrastructure improvements.
Government officials also said that even if most building are left standing – the synagogues of Gush Katif and the northern Shomron will not be left standing, for fear that Arabs will defile them. It is unclear how the IDF’s destruction of the synagogues would take place in a manner that would not constitute “defilement.”
Cabinet secretary Yisrael Maimon told IDF Radio on Tuesday that the possibility of reversing the June decision is due to the “recently started dialogue with the new Palestinian leadership." It has also been reported, however, that offers from Arab businessmen to purchase the land and homes of the Jews of Gush Katif have been received.
In recent days, Defense Ministry officials said that demolishing the buildings would present a negative image of Israel both at home and abroad. Ministry sources added that, in any event, removing the debris caused by the demolition would cost a huge sum of money, not currently available.
Environment Minister Shalom Simhon voiced opposition to the demolition of structures in Gush Katif as well, saying such a move would be highly damaging to the environment. "The demolition of homes in Gush Katif under the disengagement plan will cause severe damage to the environment and unprecedented damage to Israel's economy and public image," Simhon said.
Simhon also warned that the homes and the underground infrastructure might be made of asbestos and therefore constitute a threat to those exposed.
In addition to the debate over the Jewish homes in Gush Katif, Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres is preparing a plan to transfer Jewish-owned businesses, intact, to the Palestinian Authority. Peres' intention is to help the PA economy by means of expropriating the factories, greenhouses, machinery, product lines and marketing structures of Israelis in the Gaza region.
Peres reportedly raised the issue with PLO negotiator Saeb Erakat one and a half weeks ago. Peres is holding the first of a series of discussions on the plan at his office Wednesday. Attending the meeting will be the government's chief of operations for Judea, Samaria and Gaza, General Giora Eiland, who will present a working paper on improving the PA economy after an Israeli withdrawal. Part of the operations officer's report includes recommendations to assist the Arab side in opening a sea port on the Gaza coast and other infrastructure improvements.
Government officials also said that even if most building are left standing – the synagogues of Gush Katif and the northern Shomron will not be left standing, for fear that Arabs will defile them. It is unclear how the IDF’s destruction of the synagogues would take place in a manner that would not constitute “defilement.”