Israel’s government on Sunday approved the first evacuation of settlers from occupied land Palestinians want for a state, ratifying a divisive Gaza pullout plan seen as a possible springboard to peace talks. But another expected cabinet vote on Sunday, the endorsement of a barrier route looping around Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank, added to Palestinians’ fears Israel was cementing its grip on large swathes of territory they also seek. The historic, back-to-back decisions by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s government could shape the future borders between two peoples locked in bloody conflict for the past 4-1/2 years. ‘‘As far as the government is concerned, the die has been cast,’’ said cabinet minister Danny Naveh, a hardliner in Sharon’s rightist Likud party who voted against evacuation but seemed resigned the plan could no longer be stopped. Sharon’s US-backed blueprint to remove all Gaza settlements and four of 120 in the West Bank starting in July has been called a step towards peace by both Israelis and Palestinians, buoyed by optimism after a Feb. 8 truce agreement. But Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said the extension of Israel’s barrier, expected to cut off up to 7 per cent of the West Bank, ‘‘will undermine efforts being exerted to revive the peace process’’. Sharon’s ‘‘unity’’ cabinet voted 17-5 to ratify his disengagement Plan, effectively giving settlers five months’ notice to get out. But further ministerial votes are expected for each of the four phases of evacuation.
