Israel Pushes White House to Accept Its Withdrawal Plan

Friday, March 26, 2004
By Steven Weisman

New York Times Writer

Israeli officials said they had not abandoned the concept of negotiating with the Palestinian side to put in effect the peace plan known as the road map, which calls for a future Palestinian state next to Israel.

"In the absence of a Palestinian partner, we seek a package that would include steps on the ground to increase Israeli security and improve Palestinian lives."

Israel bolstered its police force in Jerusalem to protect against attacks in response to the killing of the Hamas spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin.

Image Credit: Rina Castelnuovo -- for NYT

WASHINGTON -- NYT
Israel wants the Bush administration to agree that if it pulls forces and settlers from Palestinian areas, three settlement clusters in the West Bank and near Jerusalem would be retained by Israel in any final accord on its boundaries, according to administration and Israeli officials.

The request for American approval of the proposal for the three areas to stay a part of Israel was pressed this week by aides to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in intensive discussions with administration officials in preparation for Mr. Sharon's coming visit to the United States.

Administration officials said no decision had been made on Israel's request, which they said poses a quandary for President Bush. While he wants to encourage Mr. Sharon to carry out proposed withdrawals in Gaza and the West Bank, the timing is not ideal, and it remains unclear just how far — and how completely — Israel will withdraw.

Israel would like to keep two settlements outside Jerusalem, Maale Adumim and Gush Etzion, and another in the West Bank, Ariel, which has served as a suburb of Tel Aviv. This plan is seen by some in the administration as reasonable, especially if in the process it leads to withdrawals from Gaza and large parts of the West Bank.

(More: NYTimes.com / Washington)

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Dan