JERUSALEM -
Israel could eventually relinquish more
West Bank settlements, beyond the four to be dismantled in coming weeks, Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon suggested in an interview published Friday.
But he reiterated that Israel would keep major West Bank settlement blocs in any peace deal.
The Israeli Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said it wants to complete the withdrawal from Gaza and the northern West Bank by Sept. 4, rather than in mid-September, the original target date. The forcible removal of settlers from their homes is to begin Wednesday.
The deadline was moved up even as military sources raised to 3,000 the number of people they estimate have entered Gaza settlements to bolster resistance.
Yahoo