Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today announced a rigid, crowded timetable for executing the plan for separating Israel from the Gaza Strip. "The separation plan will be executed. Period. And this will be the timetable," he emphasized in a meeting with Likud faction members at the Knesset.
Sharon was harshly criticized at the meeting by his ministers, chiefly Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu, after revealing details of the expedited timetable of his plan for the first time. "On September 14 I intend to submit for the Security Cabinet's approval, principles of the bill to implement the separation plan, including the principles of evacuation and remuneration of the evacuees. On September 26, cabinet members will receive a memorandum of the bill to implement the separation plan."
Sharon clarified that "by October 24, the plan will be approved by the cabinet, and I believe that by November 3 of this year, the bill will be submitted to the Knesset for a first reading."
Sharon noted that the cabinet had yesterday decided that the Israel Defense Force (IDF) had the overall responsibility for carrying out the plan, in coordination with the Israel Police, and other security forces. The IDF will present the necessary plans within 30 days.
At the meeting, Netanyahu and Minister of Education Limor Livnat criticized the decision to implement the separation plan in its entirety, and not in stages.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on Tuesday, August 31, 2004