Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced today that he will convene Likud ministers next Monday to discuss his disengagement plan and to update the ministers on talks with the american envoys scheduled to arrive in Israel later this week
The meeting will be convened following a request by Education Minister Limor Livnat
Four days ago Sharon met with Livnat and with National Union chairman Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman to discuss his disengagement plan
Sharon told the ministers that the plan is not yet finalized and that he has not yet decided on the scope of evacuation of the settlements in Gaza and the West Bank
Sharon and his bureau chief Dov Weisglass have told various ministers that they are awaiting the results of talks with the Bush administration to find out what Israel would get from the United States in exchange for a pullback and withdrawal
Sharon told the ministers that he wants recognition of settlement blocs which will be part of Israel in any future peace agreement including Ariel Gush Etzion and Maale Adumim American agreement that Israel will not be required to conduct negotiations with the Palestinians on any other plan and the rejection of the Palestinians demand for a right of return of Palestinian refugees
Livnat supports a very limited evacuation of settlements if in exchange Israel is permitted to annex the settlement blocs
She told Sharon that she will only make up her mind only after she finds out the extent of the withdrawal and the extent of the American compensation
Lieberman who is opposed to the plan told Sharon that he believes that Sharon will not succeed in obtaining a majority for it in the government
