'If Israel retreats now, it will never end'

 Printer-friendly version

By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
May 10, 2005

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Tuesday reiterated his belief that by withdrawing from Gaza and northern Samaria, Israel would enable itself to maintain control over large Jewish settlement blocs in the rest of Judea and Samaria.

"Settlement blocs will be part of the state of Israel and contiguous with Israel," Sharon said at the opening of the International Bible Quiz in Jerusalem.

Surrendering Gaza and northern Samaria, Sharon insisted, was the only way for Israel to fulfill that "very significant part of its dream."

But Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, a longtime Sharon ally, disagreed with the prime minister's assessment that the upcoming pullout would ensure continued Israeli sovereignty over towns such as Ariel, Ma'aleh Adumim and the Etzion Bloc.

"I fear that if we give in now, it will only be the first stage in a series of concessions regarding the existence of the state," Rivlin told Ha'aretz Tuesday.

According to Army Radio, Rivlin intends to use his Memorial Day speech Wednesday to accuse Sharon of planning to divide Jerusalem once he is done with Gaza and Samaria.

Rivlin dedicated last year's speech to the Jews of Judea, Samaria and Gaza in a thinly-veiled swipe at the prime minister's policies.

Related Articles:

• Olmert probe hampers Rice effort to push process
• Troubling turnaround at Olmert-Abbas meeting
• Good news - Abbas doubts he'll see Palestine this year
• PLO ambassador admits getting Jerusalem is step on road to destroying all Israel
• IDF 'relieving' Samaria's Jews of weapons

Support us!
Buy Israeli products

	Tekuma - Story of Israel's Rebirth $58.47 - 55% OFF! DVD box set outlining the miracle of the State of Israel
	Body Care Set $14.95 - 70% OFF! Dead Sea creams nourish and protect
	Medium Shofar $39.95 - 28% OFF! Classical ram's horn shofar

Sponsors: