OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, June 19, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – While US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday, June 19, that Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip would be demolished after the Israeli withdrawal, Tel Aviv announced tenders to build more 700 housing units in West Bank settlements.

"Israel and the Palestinian Authority agree that the settler homes in Gaza should be removed," Rice told a press conference following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, reported Reuters.

She said both sides had agreed that the Jewish settlers' homes would do little to address the housing needs of the 1.3 million Palestinians living in the occupied territory.

"The view is that there are better land uses for the Palestinians to better address their housing needs," Rice said, adding that the two sides "will work towards a plan for destruction and cleanup."

Washington's top diplomat said US envoy James Wolfensohn would assist Israel and the PA in formulating a demolition and cleanup plan.

"The Palestinian Authority is reviewing a master plan so that the future land use and housing in former settlement areas are economically suitable for the Palestinian people in the Gaza. The international community will help," she added.

Palestinian officials have pressed for a demolition of the single-family homes in the 21 Jewish settlements in the Strip to build new houses suitable for large Palestinian families.

The 21 settlements, which consist of 1,200 housing units occupied by some 6,429 Jewish settlers, are built on 116.5 kilometers, nearly 32.13 % of the overall space of the 362-km Strip, which has a Palestinian population of 1.3 million.

Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres opposed in February the demolition idea, favoring settlements sale.

Rice also said that Israel and the PA would coordinate the planned Israeli withdrawal.

She added that the two sides "will take the necessary actions and will coordinate such actions, where appropriate, to ensure a peaceful disengagement and create the conditions for economic viability and hope for the Palestinian people".

The American state secretary described the Gaza pullout as an historic opportunity to advance the wider peace process.

"We are now about to go through an historic step that could accelerate what is possible for us to do," she said.

Rice added that a successful withdrawal could be a vital building block towards the emergence of a democratic, independent and viable Palestinian state.

Following talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday, June 18, she warned that time was running out for both sides to step up their efforts to coordinate the Gaza withdrawal.

"The course ahead is going to require even greater coordination," she said, stressing the need for both sides to avoid "surprises".

Rice kicked off her first comprehensive Middle East tour Saturday, bearing stern messages to Israel and the Palestinians to work together on the pullout.

She will also visit Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia for talks on the Bush administration's drive for democratic reforms.

Sharon has vowed to hold onto large Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. (Reuters)

The UN Commission on Human Rights on April 14 condemned Israel’s continued settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories.