PARIS, August 18, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is a big mirage that only serves the Jewish state's measures to absorb the legitimate rights of Palestinian people, according to a French writer Thursday, August 18.

"The Israeli pullout from Gaza serves (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon's political purposes to show the whole world that Israel is making great sacrifices to achieve peace, though the step itself is limited ", Alain Gresh, Le Monde Diplomatique editor-in-chief, told IslamOnline.net.

Gresh, author of many books on the Palestinian cause, said the Gaza withdrawal mainly aims to win points on the public relations front, alleviate international pressures on the Sharon government, and manipulate the rest of the legitimate Palestinian rights.

"The Gaza withdrawal is marred by an unprecedented intensity of Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and occupied Al-Quds (East Jerusalem)."

Questions are also still unanswered on guaranteeing a free access of the Palestinian in and out the strip following the Israeli withdrawal, he maintained.

"Would the Palestinians have free access to neighboring Egypt and the West Bank to visit their families and relatives and have their own airport and seaport?"

"Such unanswered questions threaten to turn the strip into a big prison for the Palestinians."

Many Palestinians believe the impoverished Gaza Strip would become a big prison unless Israel agrees to a "safe passage" into the West Bank, in addition to a new harbor and the reopening of Gaza airport.

Following talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on July 23, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Washington wants a freedom of movement in the Strip following the Israeli pullout.

What matters next is Israel's future moves on the peace track with the Palestinians following the Gaza pullout, the French reporter said.

"Would Israel be ready to dismantle the settlements and evacuate settlers from the West Bank?"

Political analysts ruled out that the Israeli pullout from Gaza could make high hopes for any peace talks on the future of the occupied West Bank or dismantling more Jewish settlements for years.

Gresh further warned that the Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian lands would spark a new Palestinian Intifada.

"The Israeli policy on encouraging the settlement activities in Al-Quds and the West Bank could spark Palestinian military attacks and lead to the eruption of a new Palestinian Intifada."

Israel is already under intense international criticism over the separation barrier it is building in the West Bank, which will eventually extend 600 kilometers, cutting into the occupied territories and disrupting the lives of the Palestinians.

Israel claims that the West Bank barrier is for security reasons, but the Palestinians believe it is aimed at grabbing more of the land they need for their future state.

The famed French reporter, however, ruled out the eruption of a new Palestinian Intifada in the near future.

"The ongoing face-off with the Israeli occupation forces have exhausted the Palestinian people.

"The Palestinians also want to give Abbas an opportunity to reach a peaceful solution with Israel, though they don't count much on this."

Gresh stressed that the setup of the independent Palestinian state is the only guarantee to end the reciprocated military clashes between the Palestinians and Israel.

"I don't see any chances ahead to establish the Palestinian state by the end of this year despite the fact that the internationally endorsed roadmap plan envisages this.