ISRAEL: Should another attempt at dialogue with the Palestinians over the road map peace plan fail, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is drawing up a programme said to include the evacuation of isolated settlements and the creation of a border with the West Bank.
"For some time now I have been thinking of unilateral measures that will make things easier for Israel and will ensure its interests - without getting into the question of whether it is also good for the Palestinians," Mr Sharon told the mass circulation Yediot Ahronoth yesterday.
He reiterated this message at the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday, but said nothing had been finalised.
Some key points, nevertheless, have been leaked to the media. If talks with the Palestinians fail to produce results within a set timeframe, then Mr Sharon will remove isolated settlements in the territories, with evacuated settlers in the West Bank being moved to larger settlement blocs, and evacuated Gaza settlers being relocated to communities in the nearby Negev desert. The plan would also include rapid completion of the fence Israel is building in the West Bank, which it says is meant to keep out suicide bombers.
Palestinian leaders are disbelieving. "I hope that these declarations are not intended for public relations as Sharon suffers an internal crisis," said senior Palestinian official Mr Saeb Erekat.
The leaks, apparently calculated to show the Prime Minister has not abandoned diplomatic efforts, come as his popularity is slipping.
When Mr Sharon won office almost three years ago, he promised Israelis peace and security, but has delivered neither.
Last week he earned rare criticism from President Bush, over Israel's settlement policy, while at home four former heads of the Shin Bet security service accused the government of dismally failing to pursue an agreement with the Palestinians.
Two Israeli security guards, meanwhile, were shot dead on Saturday evening by Palestinian gunmen at a construction site for the West Bank fence in the east Jerusalem area.