Israel Likely to Keep 180,000 Settlers

November 21, 2005

In support of Sharon’s plan, the U.S. said last year that Israel could expect to keep some occupied land in any final peace deal with the Palestinians.

Weisglass said that the U.S. backed Israel keeping major settlement blocs as “an integral part of the state of Israel.” He went on to say, “It means the entire area of greater Jerusalem, the city of Maale Adumim, the settlements in the Gush Etzion area, and the bloc of settlements around Ariel.”

The Gaza pullout marked the first time Israel has evacuated settlements on land Palestinians want for a state.

If Weisglass is correct, then an additional 60,000 Israelis will be expelled from their homes in the West Bank. If the trauma of removing 8,500 Jews from Gaza has caused such great division among the people of Israel, what will this far larger future action do?

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