"The separation will be beneficial for Israel," Mofaz told the top-selling newspaper in his first public comments on the controversial statements unveiled by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Monday.

"The separation plan with the Palestinians is good and the evacuation from the Gaza Strip will deliver better security for the citizens of Israel than today," he said.

Sharon dropped a political bombshell Monday by stating that "in the future there will be no Jews in Gaza" and unveiling plans to evacuate 17 settlements in the occupied territory as part of a larger "disengagement plan."

But his announcement has sparked major opposition from not only hard-right members of his governing coaltion but also from some members of his Likud party.

WAR.WIRE