According to YNet news:
There will be no more evacuations in the wake of the Gaza and northern West Bank disengagement plan, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Likud municipal heads and deputy mayors during a rally at his official residence in Jerusalem.
“Jerusalem is Israel’s capital forever,” the prime minister added.
Hopefully this is not just a political promise... The full story on YNet can be read here.
In a related story the town of Ariel on the West Bank is planning on building 3000 new residential units - 300 each year for 10 years. According to the report: "Officials in Ariel say that if the plan materializes, the town’s population will grow from the current 18,000 to 30,000 within a few years. "
This is a controversial issue in Israel as the left parties (and the United States) are against any expansion of cities in the West Bank. During a visit to Ariel in late July PM Sharon said:
“I came to see how we can expand the town and reinforce the (Ariel) bloc, just as I do with other blocs. This (settlement) bloc will forever remain an inseparable part of the State of Israel and enjoy territorial contiguity with it.”
Education Minister Limor Livnat has also come out in support of the building up the towns and cities in the area. According to news reports:
Minister Livnat said that the "window of opportunity" provided by the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza must be taken advantage of for construction in the Samaria city of Ariel and in the areas surrounding Jerusalem.
Let us hope and pray that we have seen the last of "disengagements" and that the Israeli government can work out a true and lasting peace with the Palestinians. In reality the only way I can see that happening is with the coming of Moshiach - may it happen speedily!
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