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PM Sharon's top aide Dov Weisglass
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners June 2, 2005 |
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Dov Weisglass, speaking at an academic conference on national security at Tel Aviv University, said the Gaza pullout plan would place great strain on the security forces charged with its implementation and they would not be able to take on additional operations for the time being.
"Any attempt to evacuate illegal outposts could well present a very difficult test for us and the security forces," said Weisglass, but "We promised the American administration that we would dismantle unauthorized outposts. This is a promise that we plan to fulfill but... there is a limitation on how many traumas one government, one army, or one police force can take upon itself at one time.
Weisglass added that in today's atmosphere the evacuation of outposts may bring about "Very difficult situations".
"Even for those who the love of the land of Israel is of supreme value cannot believe that in the long run there could be real settlement and quality of life in three tiny pockets surrounded by an ocean of Arabs.
"Every trip by settlers to see the dentist in Israel had become a military operation. Our decision to leave the area was down to the long-term view that it was not in our national interests [to remain], unlike Judea and Samaria [the West Bank]."
Jewish settlers have established dozens of outposts on West Bank hilltops in recent years secure their settlements.
Under the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan, Israel must dismantle outposts established after March 2001, when Sharon took office. Israel has repeatedly promised to honor its obligations, but removed only a handful of the outposts, some of which were rebuilt.
During a visit by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to the White House last week, U.S. President George W. Bush issued a stern reminder on the subject.
"Israel should not undertake any activity that contravenes road map obligations or prejudice final status negotiations with regard to Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem," Bush said.
"Both the prime minister and the Palestinians see the flight from Gaza as just an appetizer," said a statement issued by the Yesha settlers council. "The continuation will be the uprooting of all the settlements in the West bank and Gaza Strip and parts of Jerusalem."
The U.S. Embassy in Israel would not comment directly on the timing of a move against the outposts.
"Israel has made commitments and we expect it to honor those commitments," Embassy spokesman Paul Patin said.
The AP contributed to this report.
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