New Yorker: PM sought interim deal on leaving 20 settlements

By Haaretz Staff 16 January 2006
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/670628.html

In an article appearing in today's New Yorker magazine, Haaretz's Ari Shavit
writes that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the National Security
Council to study four alternatives: evacuating isolated settlements in the
West Bank; evacuating an entire settlement region, perhaps one near Nablus;
withdrawing from 88 percent of the West Bank; and withdrawing from 92
percent of the West Bank. Shavit cites Sharon associates who said that his
operative plan was to negotiate with the Palestinians over an interim
agreement, under which Israel would evacuate some 20 isolated settlements.

Shavit writes that members of Sharon's inner circle had considered the
possibility of withdrawing to the border delineated by the separation fence
in return for American recognition of this line as Israel's permanent
border.

Shavit adds that several Sharon associates told him they believe that by the
end of the decade, Israel will withdraw almost to the fence line, turning
the Jordan Valley into a security zone - though it would not necessarily be
under Israeli sovereignty.

It is unclear whether Sharon ultimately adopted that idea. According to the
article, "knowledgeable sources" said the prime minister had refused to
state where the border would be. The sources said he had come to terms with
the notion of a Palestinian state, but demanded that it would be
demilitarized and would not control Israel's water sources. He also insisted
on continued territorial contiguity with Hebron and on control over
Jerusalem.

Sharon's associates said that the prime minister believed he would be able
to exploit the implementation of the disengagement to compel the
Palestinians to commit to a gradual diplomatic process that would not end
with a permanent agreement.