Israeli NSC chief: Can't advance pullback

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- National Security Council head Giora Eiland said Wednesday the pullback from the Gaza Strip cannot be hurried and will be completed by the end of 2005.

Eiland, who heads the team preparing the pullback, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee efforts will nevertheless be made to help people move before Sept. 1 if they wish to do so. The school year begins then so such a move would be easier on pupils.

Eiland's comments, reported on the Haaretz newspaper's Web site, came as the opposition Labor Party demanded an advanced pullback in its talks about joining the government. Last week Labor's leader, former Prime Minister Shimon Peres, said he believes an earlier pullback is inevitable.