“It will be regrettable if the American administration supports unilateral steps,” Qorei

RAMALLAH, February 15 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qorei urged the U.S. on Saturday, February 14, not to back Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s unilateral plans to evacuate most of the Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, stressing that Palestinians want a full Israeli withdrawal from all Palestinian territories to immediately follow any Gaza pullout.

 "It will be regrettable if the American administration supports unilateral steps," Qorei was quoted by Reuters as speaking after a cabinet session.

He said he would be "worried and upset" by such a decision.

Sharon’s plans are aimed at dismantling the heavily guarded Gush Katif settlements in the Gaza Strip, which are inhabited by some 7,500 Jews living among over 1.2 million Palestinians.

The plans are viewed as a copout to build more settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move ferociously rejected by the Palestinians. 

The Palestinian premier said the Palestinians wanted a full Israeli withdrawal from all Palestinian territories to immediately follow any Gaza pullout.

Palestinians and the international community regard Jewish settlements as illegal. Israel disputes this, Reuters said.

Diplomats said on Friday, February 13,  Washington would send envoys to Israel next week for talks before deciding whether to back Sharon's settlement proposal.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Friday that the evacuation of settlements in the Gaza Strip could reduce friction between the two sides.

The U.S. administration, however, voiced its opposition in December 2003 to any unilateral moves by Israel, which fell outside the scope of the internationally backed roadmap for peace.

Sharon had warned that unless the peace plan made tangible progress, he would implement his own disengagement plan.

Sharon is rallying support for his controversial plans among skeptical members of his Likud party. 

The hawkish premier claimed that his plans were crucial for Israel’s survival.

Settlers’ March

Meanwhile, up to 100 Jewish settlers staged Sunday, February 15, a march towards Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem) in protest at Sharon’s plans.

Settlers said the march was meant to garner public support for the residents of Gush Katif, reported Israeli daily Haaretz.

The paper said the Gush Katif settlers further are planning to put up three new communities in the Gaza Strip, adding that they intended to absorb 500 new families this year.

Elsewhere in the settlements sprawling across the strip, settlers also at Moshav Katif “hope to welcome” 48 new families, most of them in new housing units.

Neveh Dekalim, the largest settlement in Gush Katif plans to absorb another 65 families this summer, the daily added. 

Newcomers are expected to be housed either in existing houses or newly constructed housing units, at Netzer Hazani, Ganei Tal, Gan Or, Gadir, Netzarim and Morag.

Settlers' leaders in Gaza had threatened to bring down Sharon 's coalition government as members of his party also threatened to quit in protest at the settlement plans.

According to Reuters, opinion polls showed that Sharon’s plans had overwhelming support among Israelis.