|
]JERUSALEM, MAR 10 (AP): Israel will determine its border with the West Bank in the absence of negotiations with the Palestinians, and then it will build a wall and move all settlers to the Israeli side, acting prime minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview published Friday.
Olmert told the Yediot Ahronot daily that if the Palestinians "prefer to be dragged into the axis of evil of Iran," then Israel will change the path of its separation barrier in the West Bank according to national consensus and "Israelis will not live on the other side of the barrier."
Olmert also threatened to assassinate incoming Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas if he is involved in terrorism.
In interviews with other Israeli newspapers, published Thursday, Olmert said Israel would determine its borders by 2010, setting a deadline for the first time for what would appear to be a
large-scale unilateral withdrawal from much of the West Bank.
In the earlier interviews, Olmert said he would keep Gush Etzion and Maaleh Adumim, near Jerusalem, and Ariel, deep in the West Bank, as well as maintaining control over the Jordan River Valley, the line between Jordan and the West Bank.
Even with these areas under Israeli control, the plan would mean a pullout from most of the West Bank and removal of dozens of settlements.
Olmert, whose Kadima Party is the front-runner in March 28 elections, has been increasingly forthcoming about his agenda in recent days to stop a gradual slide in the polls.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Friday banned all Palestinians from entering Israel during the coming Purim holiday, security officials said.
The order was in response to concern that Palestinian militants would try to carry out attacks during the holiday, when schools are closed and many families are outside celebrating, the officials
said. During Purim, children dress up in costumes, march in street carnivals and attend parties.
The closure will go into effect Saturday night and run through Wednesday.
Israel routinely imposes closures during Jewish holidays. Thousands of Palestinians enter Israel each day to reach jobs, hospitals and commercial services.
|