I post this info here due to the discussion of boundaries. Sharon looks to Egypt for security.
Quote:Israel begins work on Gaza pullout
From correspondents in Jerusalem
June 10, 2004
AFTER a bruising political battle over Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities today got down to the nitty gritty of uprooting thousands of truculent settlers.
A top Israeli official said the pullout, which has fractured Mr Sharon's government, is "irrevocable", as the committee overseeing the evacuation held its first meeting.
Meanwhile, in northern Gaza a Palestinian was killed as Israeli troops moved into Palestinian areas, surrounded a house and flattened farmland, residents said.
Palestinian militants fired a rocket at an Israeli town from the area yesterday. The military said soldiers returned fire after an anti-tank missile was fired at them.
The committee, consisting of top officials from the Defence Ministry and other government offices, was formed after Monday's dramatic Cabinet vote approving Mr Sharon's withdrawal plan.
It was the first time an Israeli government has endorsed the idea of dismantling veteran settlements in the West Bank or Gaza. Under a compromise, however, the actual evacuations require a second vote that is months away.
The decision prompted the leader of the pro-settler National Religious Party to resign from the government, leaving Mr Sharon with a fragile minority coalition. Mr Sharon also faces opposition within his own Likud Party, which has historically been the main benefactor of the settlements.
Israeli officials said today's meeting reflected the Prime Minister's determination to push forward with his plan.
"He is as determined as can be," said the senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Following the Cabinet vote, he said, the plan is ""irrevocable".
The plan calls for the removal of all troops and Jewish settlements from Gaza, where 7500 Jews live among 1.3 million Palestinians, and for uprooting four West Bank settlements by the end of 2005.
During the overnight meeting, participants began discussions on compensation for uprooted settlers and on possible places to relocate them, participants said.
The Interior Ministry was asked to draw up a list of all residents of the settlements as soon as possible, said one participant, speaking on condition of anonymity.
He said compensation would be based on settlers' property as of June 6, the day of the Cabinet vote, in a decision aimed at discouraging new ventures in the settlements.
"The ministries were asked to accelerate the pace of their work to implement the different aspects of the plan," the Prime Minister's office said in a statement. It said the committee would meet again at the end of the month.
With yesterday's resignation of Housing Minister Effie Eitam of the National Religious Party and a deputy minister, Mr Sharon no longer commands a majority in parliament.
For now, the opposition Labor Party has pledged to provide a "safety net" by abstaining in no-confidence votes against the Prime Minister.
Mr Sharon is expected to court Labor to join his coalition, although that may not take place for several months.
The senior official said such an alliance is inevitable.
"By the end of the day the Labor Party will have to be a partner," he said.
However, Labor is divided over joining Mr Sharon again after their first partnership broke up last year.
Mr Sharon has said the Gaza pullout plan is necessary to boost Israel's security in the absence of a serious Palestinian negotiating partner.
Instead of relying on the Palestinians, Mr Sharon has asked Egypt, which borders Gaza to the south, to help guarantee security in the volatile area once Israel pulls out.
Egypt has agreed to retrain Palestinian security forces. It also has asked Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to give more authority to his prime minister, name a new interior minister and overhaul security.
Egyptian officials said today that Mr Arafat has agreed to their requests, although they are still looking for assurances that Mr Arafat isn't stalling.
The security agencies are a key power base for Mr Arafat.
The Palestinians have given only lukewarm support to Mr Sharon's plan, saying it should be part of a larger withdrawal including all of the West Bank, and have grown frustrated by Israel's efforts to cut them out of the process.
Israeli officials have also begun discussing a possible future role by Jordan in the West Bank. Last week, Jordan's foreign minister said his country would consider training Palestinian police to take control of areas that Israel vacates.
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