RICE: DON'T RAZE GAZA
NY Post  | 4-7-05
 

April 7, 2005 -- JERUSALEM — The Bush administration raised a new issue with Israel yesterday ahead of next week's visit by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, by criticizing proposals to destroy the empty homes of settlers evacuated from the Gaza Strip. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Sharon's plan to pull all 8,000 settlers out of the strip this summer as "a huge historical opportunity," and said, "We want it to succeed."

But Rice told The Associated Press she is not ready to commit the United States to specifics in a project Israel estimates will cost it $1 billion.

And she urged Israel not to engage in "wanton destruction" of the homes to be abandoned by settlers.

Sharon has not decided what to do with the nearly 1,800 homes and 120 public buildings, but is under intense political pressure not to leave them to the Palestinians because it would "reward terrorism."
 

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