4/13/2005 5:00:00 PM GMT
Palestinian Authority official Sa'eb Erakat has cast doubts on Israels plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, saying he is not sure that Israel won't turn Gaza into the biggest prison in the world.
Speaking during a symposium at the Peres Center near Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Erakat said the PA didn't know how Israel would deal with many issues of paramount significance relating to the Gaza Strip following the Israeli withdrawal.
"We have no idea what would happen to the Rafah crossings, the seaport, the airport, the safe crossing between Gaza and the West Bank.
"I am not really sure if Israel won't turn Gaza into the biggest jail in the world," said Erakat.
No final decisions have been made by regarding the said issues including whether the Israeli army would continue to maintain a presence along the borders between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
On Tuesday, the Israeli media quoted Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as saying that he might coordinate the withdrawal from Gaza with the PA in which case the settler homes wouldn't be demolished.
Sharon's stance in this regard seems to have been affected by American and international concerns that the destruction of the settlers homes in Gaza would be an expression of ill will which could cause a huge environmental disaster.
Earlier, Israeli leaders have said that the settler homes would be demolished in order to prevent Palestinians from celebrating at these settlements.