Sharon asserts continued settlements, condoles Gaza settlers

The Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said that adding to the Jewish settlement process will continue and be accelerated in the West Bank following the withdrawal from Gaza, at a time when the Israeli forces started a compulsory evacuation operation for the settlers of Gaza.

In a press conference he held in Jerusalem following his meeting with the Israeli president Moshe Katsav, Sharon considered that the settlement is "a serious program which will be continued and accelerated." This was in an attempt by him to make assurances for his settlers in the West Bank who might have fears over the Israeli government making similar withdrawal steps in certain settlements.

Sharon expressed to the settlers his strong sympathy with them to the extent he said being tearful about the evacuation, asking them not to obstruct the withdrawal and only blame him in this case which he considered as an enhancement for the security of Israel.

While Sharon commended the settlers who evacuated voluntarily, he stressed that violent resistance of the evacuation took place by young men, most of them are settlers from the West Bank who sneaked to Gaza settlements in an attempt to obstruct the withdrawal.

Sharon said that the Palestinians are making great efforts so as to keep the withdrawal process calm. He added "there is, by the ultimate end, a coordination with the Palestinians. I hope this coordination will continue during the withdrawal and after it."