Evacuated Jewish Settlements Should be Left for Palestinians, says Peres

[Scurrilous]

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=67551A15-F0A1-499A-9209DA00189380AE

<snip>

"Israel's opposition leader, Shimon Peres, says if Israel evacuates its settlements in Gaza, their infrastructure should be left for the Palestinians. Mr. Peres made the appeal at a news conference at which he also said the European Union should offer Israel and the Palestinians membership as an incentive to make peace.
Mr. Peres says what Israel built for the Jewish settlers in Gaza must remain for the Palestinians to use.

He says that all public buildings, schools, and housing must be left behind.
Mr. Peres says Israel must not destroy the settlements, as it did when it evacuated the Sinai and handed the territory back to Egypt.

"When we dismantled the settlements in Yamit , I thought it was a mistake," he said. "Why destroy a house if you evacuate it? Leave it to the people. I do not look on the Palestinians as our enemies. I look on the Palestinians as our neighbors. And, if I would be a neighbor, that is the way I would behave."

[Violet_Crumble]

1. It sounds like the only fair thing to do...

It'd go a long way towards making up for the destruction of so many Palestinian homes and so much of the Palestinian infrastructure. Peres sounds pretty reasonable to me....

While we're on the subject of Peres, there was a tiny little news report yesterday in one of the newspapers here saying that Peres refused to join Sharon's coalition. I hadn't heard anything about Sharon approaching Labor to join, but I'm wondering if more would be achieved by replacing the religious whack-jobs currently in the coalition, getting a few spots left vacant in the Cabinet, and exerting some real pressure to come to a peaceful and fair resolution. I know sometimes parties can achieve things while in opposition (happened here yesterday when the govt adopted an opposition policy unveiled the day before), but in the case of Israel right now, I can't really see anything like that happening...

Violet...

[Les Claypool]

4. Peres...

Sometimes I love the guy...and sometimes I get pissed at him. This is a great statement he's making though.

[David__77]

2. A wise recommendation.

This is the Rabin spirit that will bring peace.

[legin]

3. Cool

I should have read this thread first instead of the other one.

:evilgrin: