Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: In this Cabinet Communique PM Sharon warns that
the Bush letter is the payoff for the retreat from the Gaza Strip and thus
would be rescinded if Israel didn't retreat. He asserts that the letter
states that "According to the US position, the large settlement blocs will
remain under Israeli control in any situation."

CABINET COMMUNIQUE

(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 18.4.2004:
Sunday, 18 April, 2004

...2. Prime Minister Sharon briefed the cabinet on his recent visit to
Washington, where he met with US President George Bush. Prime Minister
Sharon thanked the negotiating team led by the Director of his Bureau, Dov
Weisglass, on its outstanding hard work. ...

Prime Minister Sharon received a letter from President Bush
( tinyurl.com/3yju4 ), which indirectly expressed his support for the
disengagement plan, and included clear American statements, which did not
leave room for misunderstandings or doubt as to the position of the US.

...The Prime Minister asserted Israel has not - since its establishment -
received such unprecedented political support, as expressed in President
Bush's letter, which includes:

· According to the US position, the large settlement blocs will remain
under
Israeli control in any situation. Every other area in Judea and Samaria
will be open for negotiation.

...Prime Minister Sharon said that the government would not discuss the
disengagement plan until after the Likud referendum on the matter, when an
unlimited discussion will be held in which every minister will be able to
express his or her opinion on the plan.

The Prime Minister emphasized that every member of the cabinet will have to
show the necessary responsibility and to decide whether or not to vote for
the plan, which will allow the political and security backing from the US,
or to vote against the plan and to throw back the unequivocal, comprehensive
and historical security support to the US.