12 April 2004

by Anai Rhoads

AnaiRhoads.org - After an announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stating that his administration would release occupation of the Gaza Strip, Sharon flipflopped Monday by stating that he has plans to tightfist as many as four Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Sharon celebrated Passover in Mahaleh Adumim settlement near Jerusalem over the weekend when he voiced his plans just hours before his trip to the United States. He has plans to meet with U.S. President Bush to discuss the possible pull-out.

Under the previous plan, Israel was to evacuate from all twenty-one Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. This included four settlements in the West Bank.

Opposition to Sharon's plan was clear, but mainly sourced from Israelis and Americans who feel the withdrawal may show weakness against the knee-dropping terrorism in Israel. Palestinians, on the other hand, are more cautiously optimistic but show a degree of concerned since this withdrawal could mean Israel may end up with more of the West Bank.

Restrictions placed on Palestinians have been blamed as the cause of much of the terrorism against innocent Israelis. Well over two-thirds of the residents in the Gaza Strip live in an compromised environment where quality of life is consideredably grim. Israeli tanks have bulldozed nearly 4500 residental homes in the last thirty-six months alone, prompting a steady stream of terrorism against Israel.

A reported 3,475 Palestinians have perished and a total of 32,419 have been injured since December 2003. Israel's total death-toll came to 816 and injuries totalled 2,785 under the same report.

Sharon seeks Bush's endorsement of the pull-out plan during the U.S. visit. The Israeli Prime Minister has shakey faith in the Internationally approved Road Map to Peace plan.

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