Showing a bit of the old hawk he used to be, Sharon did not mince words about Israel’s plans to hold on to major settlement blocs in Judea and Samaria. "It is the Israeli position that the major Israeli population centers will remain in Israel's hands under any future final status agreement," the Prime Minister said. Regarding Ma’ale Adumim, Sharon said: "It'll be part of Israel." At the same time, Sharon said construction is not imminent, and it "might take many years" before Ma’ale Adumim is physically attached to Jerusalem.