Agreement likely on settlers' rubble

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 30 (UPI) -- A top Mideast diplomat is predicting an Israeli-Palestinian agreement on what to do with the rubble after settlers' homes in Gaza are destroyed.

Israel plans to destroy the homes to make room for a town the Palestinians intend to build. Israel plans to arrange for payment to Palestinian workers to remove the rubble.

James Wolfensohn -- Mideast envoy for the Quartet for the Middle East Peace Process -- said Saturday some of the rubble could be used for the future housing project.

"It's not something that hurts Gaza or the private sector," he said, according to Channel 2 TV and Ynet. "It's something that's an opportunity for the Palestinians."

The Palestinians do not want the rubble buried on their crowded strip, but the Israelis don't want it either -- and thought they might persuade Egypt to bury it in the Sinai desert.

The government plans to start evacuating the settlers on Aug. 17, sending contractors to remove goods from the household and then destroying the houses.

Ynet said dozens of vulnerable Gush Katif residents -- including children, elderly and people suffering from physical and psychological problems -- would be evacuated before Aug. 17 to avoid potential trauma of the pullout.