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Last update - 06:29 03/12/2007
Rightist MKs blast Labor bill to compensate settler evacuation
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: West Bank, Ehud Barak, Israel 

Right-wing members of Knesset members leveled harsh criticism at Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday, after he announced that his Labor Party intends to present a bill that would provide compensation to West Bank settlers east of the separation fence who volunteer to leave their homes.

The bill was authored by MK Colette Avital and Minister Ami Ayalon of Labor, in cooperation with Meretz MK Avshalom Vilan.

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arak also told the cabinet that Israel will make an effort to remove the illegal West Bank settlement outposts in coordination with the settlers. "We are conducting a dialogue with the settlers, and we will try to reach an understanding," he said. "It is the obligation of the government in a law-abiding country to implement its decisions and enforce the law."

Following Barak's announcement, National Union-National Religious Party Chairman Uri Ariel said he intends to put a similar bill on the Knesset table that would compensate Israeli Arabs to leave their homes, and in his words, return to their countries.

MK Zvi Hendel, who was evacuated from his Gush Katif home during the 2005 disengagement from Gaza, called on the defense minister to silence himself and focus on defense issues alone. Hendel sarcastically proposed implementing such bill for Sderot residents and neighboring Negev residents whose homes are subject to barrages of rockets from Gaza, and also on Kiryat Shmona residents, who are closest to the threats of the Hezbollah.

Moshe Feiglin, chairman of the Jewish Leadership sub-faction of the Likud party, said in responde to the bill that "not only do the settlers deserve, but also Sderot and Ashkelon residents deserve the option to be compensated and leave."

The Yesha Council of Settlements slammed the bill and released a statement saying, "Barak does not understand that the public in Judea and Samaria will noy be traded for his principles and will not sell their loyalty to the Land of Israel in exchange for bribery and financial profit."

"It's better that the minister deals with the solution to Israel's real security problems- Qassam rocket firing and the Iranian threat - instead of dealing with expelling Jews from their homes," the council wrote.


During the cabinet meeting, Barak also briefed the ministers on his meetings with senior figures in U.S. President George Bush's administration at the Annapolis peace conference last week. He met with Vice President Richard Cheney, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, amongst others.

The defense minister said they showed a great understanding of Israel's security needs.

Barak added that the summit was a good beginning, though only actions would prove its success.

Barak also informed the ministers that in recent days the Israel Defense Forces has intensified its operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

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      1.   Israeli political genius 14:52  |  Sam 02/12/07
      2.   FORCED EVACUATION BY SHARON, INCENTIVES BY BARAK. GOOD! WE`LL USE 15:09  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 02/12/07
      3.   Incentives to arabs 15:16  |  Dr Eric 02/12/07
      4.   Ya, Get the F@K OUT you racist settlers... 15:19  |  POP 02/12/07
      5.   Right of Return 15:27  |  Johnny Weintraub 02/12/07
      6.   Compensation should be offered 15:28  |  Mark Lincoln 02/12/07
      7.   Reward for illegality 15:35  |  Jan Elshout 02/12/07
      8.   We will never leave our land 15:37  |  One of many 02/12/07
      9.   Barak says..... 15:39  |  Esther 02/12/07
      10.   What compensation? Tents and sleeping bags? 15:42  |  Ofer Maimon 02/12/07
      11.   And the Tel Aviv Settlers ? 16:18  |  Straight Talk 02/12/07
      12.   bill should offer Palestinians incentive to leave! 16:24  |  redmike 02/12/07
      13.   #7 Jan Elshout 17:10  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      14.   #10 Ofer Maimon 17:12  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      15.   WEST BANK RESIDENTS OFFER LABOURITES MONEY TO LEAVE ISRAEL 17:24  |  B.Ribery 02/12/07
      16.   I Hope They Plan Better Than for Gaza Evacuees 17:33  |  Jane 02/12/07
      17.   We Don`t Need To Offer Laborites To Leave Israel 17:34  |  Yishai Kohen 02/12/07
      18.   leave them on holy soil 17:41  |  michael 02/12/07
      19.   Settler "crimes" - for our European experts 17:54  |  Ben 02/12/07
      20.   It is fine to give incentives to people so that they will 17:55  |  Ra`aya 02/12/07
      21.   Incentives and Disincentives 18:25  |  Mark of Lewiston 02/12/07
      22.   Re Ishai #17: At whose expense....? 18:31  |  Esther 02/12/07
      23.   We will offer a similar bill: but for arabs, not OUR OWN people! 18:55  |  Feiglin Supporter 02/12/07
      24.   Esther: To EVERYONE`S Benefit 18:58  |  Yishai Kohen 02/12/07
      25.   Mark of Lewiston- that already exists 19:04  |  Dani 02/12/07
      26.   #20 Ra`aya 19:09  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      27.   As much as I dislike the settlemententerprise 19:10  |  r.m. 02/12/07
      28.   reward theft? 19:13  |  margaret 02/12/07
      29.   How insane --compensating illegal settlers... 19:29  |  Dutch Gordan 02/12/07
      30.   Some Gush Katif refugees are still living in tent city! 19:36  |  Nannette 02/12/07
      31.   Re Jane #16 19:37  |  Esther 02/12/07
      32.   The Palestinians have said they will have an Islamic state... 19:39  |  Labrat 02/12/07
      33.   compensation #28 19:46  |  colin 02/12/07
      34.   Labrat what about compensating Jewish refugees from Arab lands? 19:47  |  Nannette 02/12/07
      35.   Re Yishai #24 19:49  |  Esther 02/12/07
      36.   #28 Margaret Israel acquired the land in a war... 19:55  |  Nannette 02/12/07
      37.   #35 Esther, when TA is given to the Arabs, will you mind leaving? 19:59  |  Nannette 02/12/07
      38.   Esther: Academic Studies More Credeible Than Your Empty Rhetoric 20:13  |  Yishai Kohen 02/12/07
      39.   #4 - graffiti belongs on toilet walls! 20:13  |  redmike 02/12/07
      40.   A good beginning 20:15  |  roberta 02/12/07
      41.   #34 Nannette 20:19  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      42.   #28 margaret 20:29  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      43.   Esther - They Must Be Compensated 20:33  |  Jane 02/12/07
      44.   RIDICULOUS DEBATE!! 20:39  |  DR ERIC 02/12/07
      45.   #36 Nannette in london sw???? 20:48  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      46.   #29 doris with new name but still the same stuoidity 20:54  |  victor hardman 02/12/07
      47.   "illegal?" 21:08  |  Michael 02/12/07
      48.   Slamming"for right wingers 21:35  |  Danite 02/12/07
      49.   Nannete re lahbrat 21:36  |  Danite 02/12/07
      50.   Labrahas 21:37  |  Danite 02/12/07
      51.   #47 Michael from ?????? 21:41  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      52.   Eviction Notices 22:03  |  Stephen. 02/12/07
      53.   How About Some Compensation for Palestinians as Well? 22:09  |  MIKE 02/12/07
      54.   Soon the Lefties would offer money for evecuating Sderot too 22:29  |  Absolute Sweden 02/12/07
      55.   "49 and 50 Danite 22:32  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      56.   #51 that cant be right labarse you live in boston 22:32  |  victor hardman 02/12/07
      57.   Mike 22:37  |  Israeli 02/12/07
      58.   Re Yishai #38 23:17  |  Esther 02/12/07
      59.   # 8 one 23:21  |  Axel 02/12/07
      60.   Jane #16 23:23  |  GABE1 02/12/07
      61.   Addendum Yishai #38 23:27  |  Esther 02/12/07
      62.   JANE THE nationalistic Patriot 23:30  |  GABE1 02/12/07
      63.   #56 Victor Paul harrisman 23:34  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      64.   # 12 redmike 23:34  |  Axel 02/12/07
      65.   "Occupied" vs "Disputed" 23:46  |  Craig Fisher 02/12/07
      66.   NEED TO CUT BACK 00:43  |  VOICE of da MOHEL))) 03/12/07
      67.   # 65 craig 00:55  |  Axel 03/12/07
      68.   #65 Craig fisher disagree 01:19  |  Labhras 03/12/07
      69.   Esther Re #58 01:27  |  GABE1 03/12/07
      70.   Nannette & Yishai Cohen RE ESTHER 01:33  |  GABE1 03/12/07
      71.   #68 Even Kofi Annan had to apologise for saying "occupied"... 02:14  |  Nannette 03/12/07
      72.   #42 Labhras 03:01  |  margaret 03/12/07
      73.   #47 Michael 03:04  |  margaret 03/12/07
      74.   #65 03:10  |  margaret 03/12/07
      75.   Evacuate Olmert, Barak and Livni 04:46  |  Moshe 03/12/07
      76.   Fuck the Settlers 07:52  |  Eli 03/12/07
      77.   Judea bargain 08:33  |  the Pop 03/12/07
      78.   #36 Nanette thumbs thru her history books 09:25  |  Johnboy 03/12/07
      79.   #71 Nanette`s rather odd claim 10:16  |  Johnboy 03/12/07
      80.   GABE1, Yishai 10:24  |  S 03/12/07
      81.