Israel- Palestine: Peace deal hasn’t stopped deaths

Israel will not give up the main &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2002/10/09/37939.html ' target=_blank>Jewish settlements on the West Bank as part of a final peace deal with the Palestinians, the prime minister, Ariel Sharon, said yesterday. He told a press conference that Jewish "population blocks" had been there for many years and that, in agreement with President George Bush, they "will be part of the Jewish state in the future". Mr Sharon, who read some answers from a prepared script, said that Israel would cooperate with the Palestinian Authority on his "disengagement plan" to remove settlements from the Gaza Strip. While &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/2002/09/24/37141.html ' target=_blank>Yasser Arafat was alive Mr Sharon insisted that he would act unilaterally, tells the Guardian Unlimited. According to Xinhua, Palestinian and Israeli officials have secured a deal, that would see troops withdraw from the town of Jericho. Meanwhile, the Jewish state has unveiled plans to build a new settlement in the West Bank to take in those uprooted from Gaza. The Palestinian cabinet has discussed preparations for the take over of &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/366/14571_.html ' target=_blank>Jericho, which is expected to happen in the next few days. Jericho will serve as an important role model for the upcoming hand-overs of four more West Bank towns. The Palestinian officials also condemned Israel's plans to build a new Jewish settlement in the West Bank. The road map peace plan requires a halt to building settlements on land Israel captured in 1967. Meanwhile, funeral processions were held for two of the 15 Palestinian militants killed last year in clashes with Israelis. Israel returned the bodies as a goodwill gesture following last week's peace summit. In a further show of support for the cease-fire brokered in Egypt, Israel has also approved the release of 500 Palestinian prisoners. They could be free by Wednesday, while another 400 will be released in the next few weeks. NR

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