JERUSALEM, AUG 12 (AFP) - Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert revealed Thursday that Israel is set to remove "many more settlements," although his comments reportedly irritated his boss Ariel Sharon.
"We are intending to remove four settlements from Samaria (the northern West Bank), but they will not be the last ones," Olmert was quoted as telling private Channel 2 television as he toured two Jewish settlements near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
"We will clear many more settlements, not because we want to but because we have no choice if we want to reduce our confrontation with the rest of the world."
Under the terms of Sharon's so-called disengagement plan, Israel is to withdraw all its soldiers and settlers from the Gaza Strip and from four other settlements in the northern West Bank by the end of 2005.
However, Olmert's comments irritated Sharon, the television said.
It cited sources in the premier's office as saying his words had caused political damage ahead of a convention of Sharon's Likud party next week.
Sharon's controversial disengagement plan has sharply divided the right-wing party and the premier faces a tough session at Wednesday's convention, which is to be attended by some 3,000 members.