NewsMine — war-on-terror — israel — negotiations — 2003-roadmap — settlements — Viewing Item

Settlers would leave if paid { July 23 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1058868072456 http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1058868072456 Poll says Jewish settlers will leave if paid By Sharmila Devi in Jerusalem Published: July 23 2003 16:19 | Last Updated: July 23 2003 16:19 Seventy-four per cent of Jewish settlers living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would be willing to leave their homes in return for compensation from the Israeli government as part of a peace deal with the Palestinians, according to an opinion poll published on Wednesday. The poll's findings contrast with the harsh rhetoric of settler leaders, who have vowed to resist strenuously any attempts to evacuate them. Under the US-backed road map to peace, Israel is supposed to freeze new building construction in the territories occupied since the 1967 war and dismantle unauthorised outposts erected since March 2001. Ariel Sharon, Israeli prime minister, has provoked strong opposition from rightwingers with a pledge to dismantle mostly uninhabited outposts but the poll shows he has the backing of 66 per cent of settlers who believe they should be removed. The Israeli group Peace Now interviewed 1,100 settlers by telephone and found also that 44 per cent think the Palestinians deserve a state. About 200,000 settlers live in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which Israel occupied in 1967. Their eventual fate would be subject to final negotiations under the road map, which sets out steps leading to a Palestinian state by 2005. The Peace Now poll echoes recent Palestinian surveys in demonstrating an apparent willingness to compromise for peace. Only around 10 per cent of the Palestinians who became refugees when the state of Israel was declared in 1948 want to return to Israel, according to polls published last week by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research. However, many Palestinian leaders say they will not give up a right of return. There is growing Palestinian impatience with Mahmoud Abbas, prime minister, who is due to hold talks with President George W. Bush in Washington on Friday. Mr Abbas is expected to seek pressure on Israel to release Palestinian prisoners captured during the intifada. Militant groups have warned their ceasefire rests on the fate of the some 6,000 prisoners. Meanwhile, Mr Abbas may face a confidence vote in the Palestinian Legislative Council if his trip to the US is deemed a failure.

Jewish settlers vow defend outposts Most settlers would leave for peace Settler outposts defy road map Settlers shocked removing outposts Settlers would leave if paid { July 23 2003 } Sharon backs 95m settlers plan Sharon rules out dismantling settlements { May 13 2003 } Sharon says keep building outposts Sharon says occupation must end { May 27 2003 } Files Listed: 9

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