Peres: More Jewish settlements will go [View All]

[oberliner]

JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert remains committed to the dismantling of Jewish West Bank settlements, but the scope of removal depends on whether the Islamic militant Hamas recognizes Israel, his deputy said Saturday.

Olmert was elected a year ago on a pledge to draw Israel's borders unilaterally by dismantling dozens of settlements, but keeping and annexing large settlement blocs close to Israel.

However, Olmert shelved the unilateral approach after last summer's war with the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. Israel had acted unilaterally in 2000 when it pulled out of Lebanon, but the action emboldened Hezbollah militants, who took it as a sign of Israeli weakness.

The withdrawal was widely seen as a seed for the 2006 war, sparked by a Hezbollah cross-border attack on Israel.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070303/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_settlements_1