GAZA, April 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will meet representatives of Gush Katif settlements in the Gaza Strip to discuss a plan to transfer Gaza settlements to the Nitzanim dunes, Israeli media sources reported Tuesday.

   The Nitzanim dunes are located between Ashdod and Ashkelon on the Israeli coast.

   The proposal was secretly prepared by some of Sharon's close associates, despite objections of Sharon's cabinet and concerned official planning agencies, said the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz on its website.

   The proposal calls for establishing four new communities over 4,000 dunoms (3,757,200 sq meters), with enough housing for all 1,700 families in Gush Katif who wish to move there.

   The new communities would take about three years to build, so the settlers would have to find temporary housing elsewhere in the interim period, said the website. Enditem