Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today that he is planning to evacuate 17 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.
Mr Sharon told his Likud party he intended to relocate what he called 'problematic' settlements in the Palestinian territories. However, he gave no timetable for the withdrawal and said he would want settlers to agree to the move first.
After his comments, settlers' groups and some Israeli politicians came out against the plan, which would affect about 7,500 people.
Mr Sharon has previously said he supports the US-sponsored peace plan known as the 'roadmap', under which Israel is required to remove all settlements established in the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank since he came to power in 2001.
Mr Sharon is expected to visit the United States later this month.
