Former Shin-Bet chief Ami Ayalon: Leave settlements, or no Jewish state by Gil Hoffman in the Jerusalem Post 10:54am Thu Jun 13 '02 Former Shin-Bet chief Ami Ayalon and Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Melchior called for Israel to leave Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip last night at a Meimad Party meeting in Jerusalem. print article Ayalon: Leave settlements, or no Jewish state Jun. 13, 2002 By GIL HOFFMAN Former Shin-Bet chief Ami Ayalon and Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Melchior called for Israel to leave Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip last night at a Meimad Party meeting in Jerusalem. "The need to leave Judea and Samaria is not connected to the security issue but to the continued existence of the Jewish people in the land of Israel," Ayalon said. "If we don't leave the territories, either we will no longer be a democratic society, or we will not be a home for the Jewish people." Ayalon and Melchior said the demographic threat of the growing Palestinian population necessitates an immediate withdrawal from the territories. Melchior said the average age of Palestinians is under 13, while for Israelis it is over 40. "We need to leave the settlements as soon as possible, with or without an agreement with the Palestinians," Melchior said. "We simply cannot afford to be an occupier in today's world." Melchior, Meimad's chairman, said that while he disagrees with many of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's decisions, he must be given credit for his restraint and Meimad should remain in the government. The party grew to two MKs when Rabbi Yehuda Gilad was sworn in on Tuesday, replacing new Lod Mayor Maxim Levy of Gesher on the former One Israel list. More than 300 people attended the Meimad event in the Jerusalem Crowne Plaza Hotel, which started with a toast to Gilad. "I think it's important to remain in the government," Melchior said. "When the nation is hurting, there is nothing wrong with sitting in a national unity government, and serving in the government does not mean you cannot provide an alternative." Ayalon said the government is merely dealing with its own survival and is not bringing the state closer to becoming a peaceful democratic society, but he declined to reveal his political future. www.jpost.com/ add your comments

We are not democratic society today - so we can stay by Joe 10:59am Thu Jun 13 '02 print comment We are not democratic society today - so we can stay add your comments

You're not a democratic society, and... by Hope 12:42am Mon Jun 17 '02 print comment you should NOT stay. Israel should leave the illegally Occupied Territories because it is the right thing to do and the Jewish people who know what injustice and suffering mean, should not inflict the same and worse on others. Israelis should seek to be a model for how nations can protect their minorities (be they Jews or Arabs) and become a democratic state that supports the peace and prosperity of all peoples. add your comments