Israel On Hold For U.S. Elections?

Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the evacuation of the settlements there will most likely take place after the U.S. presidential election in November, Israel Army Radio quoted a senior government official as saying Wednesday.

The source said that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan might raise some difficult political issues for President Bush, both from Democrats and parts of the American Jewish community.

Three U.S. envoys were beginning talks in Jerusalem Wednesday on an Israeli plan to dismantle settlements in the Gaza Strip, reports CBS News Correspondent Robert Berger.

Sharon hopes to convince the three U.S. envoys to support his unilateral plan to dismantle 17 Jewish settlements in Gaza, but the U.S. does not believe unilateral steps will bring peace. Therefore the envoys will urge Israel to hand the settlements to the Palestinians as part of implementation of the roadmap peace plan.

That would be a problem for Israel, because it doesn't believe it has a peace partner on the Palestinian side.

Israeli military planners presented several options to Sharon for the dismantling, ranging from a full Gaza pullout to turning vacated settlements into army bases.

Israeli rabbis from the Jewish settlement council called an emergency conference to bitterly condemn Sharon's plan to dismantle Gaza settlements.

"The crime of dismantling Jewish communities is a sin against the Jewish people that cannot be forgiven," Rabbi David Hacohen said. For the rabbis and their followers, Gaza is the Promised Land, and settling it is a Biblical command.

The Haaretz daily said Giora Eiland, Sharon's national security director, presented four options for Gaza, ranging from a full withdrawal to plans to leave some troops in the area.

Israel's biggest newspaper, Yediot Ahronot, reported that Sharon supports a complete withdrawal, while leaving homes and infrastructure in the settlements intact. International mediators would then hand the settlements to the Palestinians. Sharon's critics say that would be a reward for terrorism that would bring more terror.

On Tuesday, Jibril Rajoub, one of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's top security advisers, said the Palestinians could ensure security if Israel pulls out of Gaza, but said a negotiated settlement is preferable.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia Wednesday called for international forces to keep the peace between Israelis and Palestinians if Israel withdraws from Gaza.

"If the Israelis withdraw (from Gaza) I think we will be able to run the areas that they withdraw from," he told European Parliament committee in Brussels. "What we want from you, we want your support to rebuild our security ... I think we need international forces or peacekeeping forces at that time."

Former chief rabbi Avraham Shapira, spiritual leader of the pro-settlement National Religious Party in Sharon's coalition, warned that Sharon would find himself out of office if he tries to carry out his proposals. Sharon has historically been a leading advocate of the settlers.

Zeev Hever, a settler leader who is close to Sharon, warned that the prime minister is serious about his separation plan.

"It is impossible to trust anyone in this matter. It must be taken very seriously," Hever told Haaretz.

Housing Minister Effi Eitam became the latest hawkish politician to offer an alternative proposal.

Eitam's proposal would initially give Palestinians limited control over schools, garbage collection and other municipal affairs. Eventually, areas of Gaza would be joined with Egypt and West Bank residents would be joined in a confederation with neighboring Jordan.

The plan apparently rules out an independent Palestinian state, and Palestinians who decide to remain under Israeli control would not have the right to vote.

Egypt and Jordan, which both have peace agreements with Israel, did not immediately react to the proposal. But neither country is likely to accept.

The U.S. envoys were expected in Israel late Wednesday, the highest level delegation in months, aiming to unfreeze the peace talks.

The three officials — Assistant Secretary of State William Burns; Stephen Hadley, deputy director of the National Security Council; and Elliot Abrams, a Mideast specialist at the Council — were seeking details on Sharon's plans.

They planned meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials about the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan, which is meant to lead to an independent Palestinian state. However, not even the first steps have been taken on the road map.

Army Radio's senior government source said the disengagement plan would likely be finalized within three months. At that time, a national referendum would be held.