Sharon readies new Gaza plan
23/05/2004 21:23  - (SA)  

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Jerusalem - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Sunday that he will bring his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip to his cabinet for debate next week.

Sharon's "unilateral disengagement" plan was voted down by members of his Likud Party on May 2, despite its endorsement by the US and guarantees of US support on key issues in a final agreement with the Palestinians.

Sharon has been meeting cabinet ministers in recent weeks to amend the plan and make it more acceptable to hardliners in the Likud. However, passage in the Cabinet is not assured.

In a public appearance on Sunday evening, Sharon declared, "You know that when I fight for something correct and just, I carry it out.

"I will also do this in the disengagement from Gaza and a few settlements in Samaria," referring to the northern West Bank.

The prime minister will formulate the new version of the plan by the end of the week and present it to his cabinet on Sunday, said his spokesperson, Raanan Gissin. He would not confirm media reports that the cabinet would vote on the plan on Sunday.

"He is determined to present this plan and to go through with the disengagement," Gissin said.

The new plan reportedly calls for a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements in stages, instead of all at once.

In addition, the homes of the Jewish settlers would be destroyed in the pull-out, Israeli media reported.

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