Israeli Lawmakers Seek Unilateral Separation From Palestinians

Four Israeli lawmakers are moving to seek Israel's unilateral separation from the Palestinian- controlled areas, the Internet edition of Israeli leading Ha'aretz daily reported on Friday.

The four influential politicians include Dan Meridor from the Center Party, Michael Eitan from the right-wing Likud, Haim Ramon and Trade and Industry Minister Dalia Itzik from the center-leftist Labor.

They have discussed the issue not only among themselves, but with security officials, high-ranking reserve army officers and media sources, according to the report.

Ramon, former interior minister, told Ha'aretz on Thursday that he intended to establish a separation movement by mid-September.

Surveys have showed that 40 percent of right-wing voters support a separation plan, which advocates withdrawal of scattered settlements to concentrate settlement blocs, he said.

Even more center and left-wing voters support the plan, he added.

Meanwhile, Itzik sent a letter on Thursday to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon demanding that he call a Knesset (parliament) session to discuss a plan for the erection of a safety fence, which would create a separation "between terror and the residents of Israel."

The plan, drawn up by senior Israeli reserve officers, proposes building an electric fence to separate Israel from the West Bank, which would cost some 300 million shekels (about 71.4 million U.S. dollars).

The fence would cover around 90 percent of the border line except the Jerusalem area, West Bank bloc of settlements Gush Etzion and the West Bank settlement of Ariel.

Israeli Defense Minister Binjamin Ben Eliezer and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres have both expressed opposition to the idea of unilateral separation, which was brewed under the previous government led by Ehud Barak.

The two Labor ministers believe that such a separation would eventually lead to a "mortar battle" rather than an end to shooting at Israeli targets from Palestinian territories.






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