 |
 |
 |
|
|
PM Ariel Sharon narrowly wins Knesset Finance Committee approval for the allocation of disengagement plan expenses. (AP)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By israelinsider staff and partners May 10, 2005 |
|
| |
The National Council for Planning and Building has decided to order the preparation of detailed plans for the Nitzanim area, expected to house "evacuees" from Gush Katif after the disengagement.
The plan includes possible construction in the area but does not allow for agricultural lands.
It was also decided that the plan will be implemented in stages according to the number of interested evacuees. If the number is too small, the project will be halted.
The council is slated to debate the plan again in July and will decide then on its final approval.
Council members approved the preparation of blueprints even though most prefer alternate plans to house evacuated Gaza Strip settlers in the northern Negev region
In the meantime, the Knesset Finance Committee has approved the allocation of more than NIS 100 million for expenses related to the disengagement plan.
The main item, to provide the funding for temporary housing for evacuated settlers (accounting for NIS 63 million of the outlay) passed by a narrow margin of six to five. Hadash MK Ahmed Tibi cast the decisive vote. Tibi opposes the disengagement plan in principle, arguing it will not improve the lives of Palestinians.
Tibi abstained from voting on other items, which passed by a wide majority.
Those payments included NIS 35 million for infrastructure in towns built to absorb the settlers, NIS 7 million for the planning of new towns, and NIS 3 million to rent apartments to house the settlers.
Hadash Chairman Mohammad Barakeh, who usually represents the faction on the committee, allowed Tibi to take his place, since he did not wish to participate in the vote. Two of the Likud "rebels" who oppose the disengagement plan, MKs Yehiel Hazan and Michael Gorlovsky, also abstained from the vote and discussion.
In the meantime, the prime minister promised that every settler who is evacuated will have a place to live, and that if Gaza Strip residents express a desire to relocate to the area of Nitzanim, they will be able to do so.
But a minority petition drive among Gush Katif settlers has not come close to collecting the 5,000 signatures requested by the government and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni by May 10 to start planning for the construction of four new communities in the area of Nitzan and north Ashkelon.
A government spokeswoman said the Prime Minister's Office is still hopeful that a majority of settlers will still commit to moving to the area. The deadline was not an ultimatum, she said, but an attempt to receive information needed to move the process forward, said the spokeswoman.
The 5,000 number is allegedly for planning purposes so that the government can know whether it needs to build one community or up to four. If that number is met, the Prime Minister's Office will also weigh the question of whether to give the settlers their own local authority, she said.
The success of the relocation program depends on the settlers. The sooner the government knows how many people will move there, the sooner it can start planning for them, she said.
But in Gush Katif, people do not believe the two factors are interdependent.
Debbie Rosen, a spokeswoman for the Hof Aza Regional Council, said a formal decision had been taken not to respond to the government's request.
Lior Kalfa, the leader of Gush Katif's largest community, Neveh Dekalim, said that such an agreement will be possible only after disengagement comes to pass.
Should the unimaginable happen, and he hastens to add that like many in Gush Katif he believes it won't, then "on the day after and only on the day after," he will be willing to talk with the government about where Neveh Dekalim's new home should be, he said.
Ya'acov Yizre'eli, who heads the Gush Katif community of Netzer Hazani, said the issue of signatures was simply a ploy on the part of the government. They already know that if the Gush Katif settlers are forced to move they would prefer the area around Nitzanim because it is near the sea and most closely resembles the terrain where they now live, he said.
"They do not need signatures from us to know that this is the solution," said Yizre'eli. His biggest question is not where to move but how best to prevent disengagement from happening.
"It's not possible to wage a battle for your home and to plan for the battle's failure at the same time," he said.
Kalfa added that he believes the intent of the question is not to seek a solution but "to try to break the spirit of the people of Gush Katif," he said.
To that end Kalfa said he sent a letter to all Neveh Dekalim residents late last week asking them not to cooperate with the government.
"We are suggesting, and more than that, we are asking that you destroy any paperwork from the government [including forms from the Disengagement Authority sent to homes during Pessah] and do not fill out the form [with questions about alternative living arrangements]," said the letter.
While the letter said the Neveh Dekalim leadership supported the work of the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel which had negotiated the deal on behalf of the settlers, the leadership "will not give up its right to wage a legitimate battle against the evil plan."
"There is no question that the reality [of living under the threat of disengagement] creates a high level of stress, but it is also clear we as a public have more strength than we realize. We have the ability as a community to meet the challenge that is before us."
But Bedolah head Amram Eitah said he, like many members of his community, prefers a two-tier approach: He wants on one hand to help prevent disengagement and on the other hand to plan for the day.
Sharon declined to voice an opinion on the fate of the evacuated settlers' homes, noting only that a decision on the matter would be made in good time. "There are considerations either way, and in order to make a decision, the Palestinians' position has to be clear," he said. "I know what pictures will be shown around the world [if the houses are demolished]; on the other hand, I wouldn't want to see terrorists raising their flags and dancing on Jewish homes."
Sharon has made his final decison regarding the date of the disengagement. Sharon said he has decided to postpone the withdrawal until the middle of August, in order not to conflict with a traditional Jewish mourning period. The withdrawal will take place "immediately after the (Jewish mourning day) of Tisha Be'Av -- on (August) 15, 16 or 17," he said.
When asked when the areas slated for evacuation will be declared closed military zones, Sharon said "it depends a lot on when people, whose aim is to disrupt the disengagement, will start arriving in the area."
The results of upcoming Palestinian Authority elections in July will not affect Israel's plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and portions of the West Bank, since the move is unilateral, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has said in response to a remark made by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
Shalom said on Monday that if Hamas won in PA parliamentary elections set for July 17, Israel should rethink its plans for a withdrawal. In response to the criticism of his statement, Shalom told Israel Radio on Tuesday that a unilateral pullout "is not sacred. If the move is a suicidal act by the State of Israel it should not take place."
A dispute arose yesterday between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom over how Israel should respond if Hamas gains a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections.
Predicting that Hamas would win a majority in the Palestinian parliament in the upcoming elections, Shalom said that: "It seems to me unreasonable to move forward with the implementation of the disengagement plan as if nothing had happened and hand over the territories only for Hamas to create there a 'Hamastan'.
"Hamas' pledge to destroy Israel is not a thing to be taken lightly. The territory must be handed over only to the PA under Fatah rule," he added.
In a meeting with PA Interior Minster Nasser Yousef in Jerusalem, Shalom called on the PA to prevent Hamas' participation on the elections. "We should all delay the integration of Hamas in the political system. There is no room in a democratic society for a party carrying arms and dealing with terror against neighboring citizens."
But Mofaz said Israel is determined to withdraw from Gaza under any circumstances."The disengagement will not be canceled," Mofaz told Army Radio. "I don't know what the results will be in Gaza (elections)... Yes, Hamas has been strengthened, and we have a reality in which there is a Palestinian Authority and Palestinian terror organizations, but I think we need to make supreme efforts to carry out the disengagement. At the end of the day, it's good for Israel."
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
