Posted on 04/17/2005 10:58:28 PM PDT by bamaborn
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is considering delaying the planned Gaza pullout until mid-August, after the completion of a three-week Jewish mourning period that marks the destruction of the two biblical temples, an Israeli official said Monday.
The withdrawal from all Gaza Strip and four northern West Bank settlements is scheduled to begin at the end of July and last four weeks.
Yonatan Bassi, the government official responsible for compensating and relocating Jewish settlers slated for evacuation, suggested to Sharon during Sunday's Cabinet meeting that the withdrawal be delayed by three weeks, Bassi's spokesman, Haim Altman, said.
Altman said Sharon indicated he would consider the suggestion. Officials with the prime minister's officer weren't immediately available for comment Monday.
Bassi raised the issue after "an internal struggle and talking to rabbis" and explained that Jews are not allowed to move to a new home during the Tisha B'Av mourning period, Altman said.
During the three-week period before Tisha B'Av, observant Jews "mourn" the destruction of the two biblical Jewish temples. During this period, observant Jews don't shave, go to the beach or get married and many eat only dairy. Tisha B'Av itself is a fast day.
Settler leader Pinchas Wallerstein said they told Sharon months ago that the dates he chose for the withdrawal were problematic, especially for the Gaza settlers, who are largely observant Jews.
"Maybe Tisha B'Av is appropriate. If you want to bring destruction on the nation of Israel maybe it is appropriate to do it on a date known for destruction," Wallerstein told Israel's Army Radio, adding that in the end the date of the evacuation is meaningless.
"The date doesn't matter to us. Our goal is to prevent the withdrawal," Wallerstein said.
AP-ES-04-18-05 0108EDT
Izrael ping Thank you
Suggestion for Sharon.
One year after there have been no terroists attacks against Isreal, it will move out of the Gaza strip. If after that these is one more attack, Isreal will reoccupy the Gaza strip and never give it back.
Suggestion for Bush
One year after there have been no terroists attacks against Isreal, the U.S. will resume funding to the Palestinians. If after that these is one more attack, the Palestinians will not get one more penny from the U.S.
(This does not mean I am wild about the idea of giving money to the Paliestinians in the first place but we have to start somewhere.)
The United States should not provide aid in any form, to any country whose representatives are publicly and openly anti-American.
I can not disagree with you on that. You are correct.
If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
Will this also give the Homosexuals the go-ahead to have their abomination rally in Jerusalem?
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