Cabinet arrivals ahead of crucial withdrawal vote
(20 Feb 2005) Jerusalem - February 20, 2554 1. Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister, arriving at meeting 2. Shimon Peres, Israeli Vice Premier arriving 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli Vice Premier (Question: Could Ministers vote against this historic decision?) "Well as long as they''re a minority it makes the democracy full (Q: What about the fence route?) "The fence that has been suggested is not far from the plans set out at Camp David." 4. Shimon Peres walks away 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yitzhak Herzog, Israeli cabinet minister "The government is passing one of the most historic resolutions in the history of the state of Israel. It''s a painful resolution but it will change the course of the region. It also calls for the Palestinians to move on with the process and it also secures Israeli citizens with a much better improved and fairer track of the fence that protects Israel from suicide bombers." 6. Wide shot cabinet meeting 7. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister "It''s not an easy day, it''s not a happy day, evacuation of Gaza settlements and the northern West Bank is a very hard move, hard for the residents, hard for the Israeli citizens, hard for me and I am sure it''s also hard for the government members. But this is a necessary move for the future of the state of Israel." 8. End shot of meeting 9. Demonstration of left wing "Peace now" outside the Prime Minister office supporting the disengagement plan West Bank, 19 and 20 February 2005 10. Outskirts of Bethlehem and Hebron, West Bank 11. Various of area of West Bank barrier built- route in discussion in the cabinet meeting FILE: Kfar Darom Gaza Jewish settlement, Gaza Strip 12. Various shots of of Kfar Darom STORYLINE Israel''s Cabinet met on Sunday to approve a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the inclusion of two large Jewish settlements blocs on the Israeli side of the West Bank separation barrier, historic decisions likely to shape the nation''s future borders. Both issues are expected to win overwhelming Cabinet approval. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon''s plan to withdraw from Gaza and four West Bank settlements this summer was expected to be approved by 17-5, sealing the political defeat of hard-liners, including members of his ruling Likud Party attempted to derail the withdrawal. Opening the session, Sharon, a former settler patron, suggested he was deciding on the dismantling of Jewish settlements with a heavy heart. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
