Israeli Gen. Shomron’s Backing of Land-for-Peace Deal Stirs Criticism

Israel’s outgoing military chief of staff was quoted Tuesday as saying that the Palestinian uprising cannot be quelled with force and that a peace settlement is “worth much more than territory.”

Lt. Gen. Dan Shomron’s suggested support for a U.S.-backed formula under which Israel would trade occupied land for peace with the Palestinians drew immediate criticism from hard-line government officials.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir’s right-wing government rejects giving up any part of the West Bank and Gaza Strip captured in the 1967 war.

Housing Minister Ariel Sharon accused Shomron--who has directed army operations against the Palestinian uprising--of “donning the underwear of politicians before taking off his stripes.”

Shomron, 54, is known to be close to the left-of-center Labor Party, which favors trading land for peace with Palestinians in the occupied territories.

His remarks were made Monday in a private briefing with Israeli reporters and widely reported on front pages Tuesday. His four-year term as chief of staff ends April 1.

Shomron’s statements and the strong reaction highlighted the split in Israel over the U.S.-backed land-for-peace formula. A poll this month showed Israelis almost evenly divided on the idea.

“On the question of territories or peace, territory bears some significance during wartime,” Shomron said. But he added: “A political settlement is worth much more than territory.”

“The intifada (uprising) cannot be quelled, just as the entire Middle East conflict hasn’t been,” he said.