Israel Ties Gaza Pullout to U.S. Guarantees on W.Bank

Israel needs U.S. assurances of support for annexing West Bank settlement blocs in return for evacuating Gaza in unilateral moves spawned by a peacemaking impasse with Palestinians, political sources said on Friday.

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He said Sharon intended to take no action to break the bloody Middle East stalemate without firm U.S. backing.

"Such support does not mean only a 'yes' from the Americans -- we should also get things in return from them on a number of issues, some of which we discussed with the U.S. envoys today," he told reporters without elaborating.

Political sources said Sharon could not override rightist resistance in his coalition to ceding any settlements, let alone 17 small isolated Gaza enclaves, unless Israel could cement its hold on much larger West Bank blocs seen as strategically vital.

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The sources said Sharon wants to annex three large settlement clusters due to be taken in by a barrier Israel is erecting in the West Bank and bills as a future bulwark against suicide bombers. Palestinians call the barrier a land grab.

"For us it's a question of getting the Americans to accept that certain West Bank settlement blocs must be part of Israel in the future, as well as neighborhoods of Jerusalem that are integral Jewish parts of Jerusalem, not settlements (on occupied land) as the Palestinians call them," a senior source said.

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http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4556978

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An encouraging development. The disputed territories must be negotiated. Some West bank blocs are required in order to clear at least some of Gaza.

So legitimizing territorial expansion through war permanently destroys the hope for post-WWII peace.

A peaceful attitude toward Israel from it's neighbors would perhaps have prevented this.

started?

Israel isn't good at motivating people.

eom