Israel must withdraw from Gaza to stay 'Jewish, democratic': Sharon

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) warned that Israel needs to withdraw from the Gaza Strip (news - web sites) to remain "Jewish and democratic", in a speech broadcast on public radio.

"We will not be able to preserve the Jewish and democratic character of the state if we continue to rule over one million Palestinians" in the Gaza Strip, Sharon told students at Israel's Academy of War late Thursday.

The argument is the strongest put forward yet by the hawkish, right-wing prime minister for his plan to evacuate troops and Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip by the end of 2005.

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