Haaretz WikiLeaks exclusive / Settler leader downplays comments on West Bank evacuation
Danny Dayan's response comes after Haaretz cited a WikiLeaks cable quoting the settler leader saying that settlers would agree to evacuate West Bank for 'the right price.'
By Yossi Melman, Ofer Aderet and Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news West Bank Middle East peaceSettlers leader Danny Dayan on Thursday downplayed his comments revealed by WikiLeaks that some settlers would be willing to leave the West Bank for "the right price."
His comments came following a Haaretz report quoting Dayan as saying that settlers would be willing to evacuate the West Bank in return for adequate compensation.
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Danny Dayan. |
| Photo by: Tess Scheflan |
Dayan's statements, which were made in closed-door meetings with U.S. diplomats in Israel in recent years, came in response to questions about a potential evacuation-compensation bill in the Knesset.
When asked about the issue, Dayan replied: "I'm an economist, and I know that some people will take it if the price is right."
In response to the Haaretz report on Thursday, Dayan criticized Haaretz for taking his words out of context, saying in an interview with Army Radio that "economical laws work in Judea and Samaria as well."
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The West Bank settlement of Ariel |
| Photo by: AP |
"Especially in the settlements [the United States wants] to evacuate," Dayan said, adding that he meant that "very few settlers would agree. Of course, the larger the bribe, the more settlers would agree to evacuate."
Referring to other comments he made concerning his willingness to remove roadblocks in the West bank, Dayan said that the settlers "have come to Judea and Samaria to stay. We have returned because it is our home."
"The fact that I am able to understand the Palestinians does not make me for them," he added.
In the WikiLeaks cable Dayan was quoted as telling the U.S. Embassy officials that he was aware of the Palestinians' attachment to the West Bank.
He acknowledged that he was "shamed and embarrassed" by the desecration of Palestinian mosques and the vandalism of Muslim gravestones.
Dayan added that settlers were guilty of "morally horrific" things, including attacks on Palestinian property as retribution for Israeli government efforts to rein in settlement construction, also known as the "price tag" policy.
The WikiLeaks cables report that Dayan told the U.S. officials that this policy was "a mistake that will not serve the interests of the settlement movement."
According to the documents, Dayan's sentiments were echoed by Elyakim Haetzni, a founder of the Yesha Council. Haetzni expressed concern that settler rabbis were not doing enough to dissuade the so-called hilltop youth in the West Bank from harming Palestinians.
Dayan also supported the removal of checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank so Palestinians could enjoy greater economic prosperity and human rights.
During one meeting with U.S. diplomats, Dayan said he was "deeply attached" to the West Bank, adding that the settlers had a "moral right" to settle there. Dayan said he understood why the Palestinians felt a similar tie to the land.
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If such people ever existed then some proof of has to be produced surely. So far there has NOT been any proof they have ever existed.The new nomenclature derived only since 1962 by Arafat who's megalomaniaisms decided it should be so. During the British Mandate (remember please) And the partition Jews were called Palestinians..The rest merely Arabs..Even though I decry the disingenuousness by the British that were in cahoots with the Arab insurgents ,FACT remains the mish mash of arabs who entered the Holy Land were the inhabitants of the Arab peninsula,also just deset peoples who flocked into the holy land after the early pioneers that came in the 1800 clearing the malaria infested swamps making the place habitadable toa degree..Then some Arabs came seeing the miracle the Jews produced.There is the true story that some have to study and learn before uttering inanities.But I still would like to have an answer to my questions above. Please tell me .
Let' send the settlers to do something useful for the country - develop the Negev, rather than live in illegal settlements in palestinian territory.
They can make Jordan bloom. And, they have millions of their brothers waiting for them.
Apparently it's ok to set up a 'palestine' with the number one priority of cleansing all Jews from it. And all legally sanctioned by the UN. Imagine a new country anywhere else in the world that said it could only become a country as long as Muslims were all removed.
International law is quite clear on the matter that an occupying force is not allowed to transfer its own civilians into the occupied area. This law was passed after WW2 because Germany had used that strategy in e.g. Poland - it certainly wasn't passed specifically with jews in mind like you seem to suggest. And the PA has said multiple times that settlers are happy to stay, as long as they do so as Palestinian rather than Israeli citizens (and obviously: as long as they didn't actually steal the land from someone else).
because all Israeli actions are aimed at entrenching itself in the Westbank. I think it is highly unlikely that it will ever leave the Westbank, even the non-Jewish areas.
settler leader accuses the settlers of being "morally horrific"!
These settlers from USA are just people decieved by religious beliefs and are poor creatures thinking the God ordered them to come. They should be educated and persuaded to leave with some allowance for their homes they will leave for Palestinians
They work and hey do not need any money.. They serve in the IDF.Are productive and no need for any monies from anyone.. because we read here on some from the "hill top" the majority are genuine and very patriotic to their country Israel. I wish the fellow had not pursued in getting the US involved in tis matte..The result has ensued more censure rather than help..As if the settlers would accept monies and give up the precious land as a bonus..How despicable that sounds..
The Palestinians can emigrate to the new Democratic Arab countries.
Because I'm not aware of any elections recently. Egypt is still being governmed by the military, Lybia is still in a civil war, and not that much has changed elsewhere. Also, do these countries get a say in this matter, or the Palestinians? Or just those people who are after a bit of extra land and wouldn't mind all the locals just disappearing?
I mean this is nothing but GREED ..22 Arab states and with the terror entity Hamas equals to 23rd While there is only ONE ISRAEL... And if and when Abbas gets his state(long wait I hope) Then Israel will have a 24th Arab STATE ON ITS DOORSTEP.. Unbelievable
There are only 12 or so million jews, compared to hundreds of millions of arabs. Do you not think it is logical that there are far more arab countries, and that they cover a larger part of the earth? And that they have more influence in (more or less) democratic institutions like the UN? What about Luxembourg? Are they being greedy for having insisted on their own nation, while there were so many other European countries they could have joined?
If one is capable of deceiving & committing swindle in Israel, one can become a politician. So why should settlers be paid compensation if they can have a real job and work for their money? The majority of Israelis should wake-up and stand strong against settler money extortionists. Enough is enough.
Settlers work, they work in jobs, have professions some of them are entrepreneurial and have started business. Just like the majority of Israelis, they are no differerent.
1) Gaza, federated with Egypt 2) Israel, with Jewish population centers in Judea/ Samaria 3) Jordan, with Arab populatiuon centers in its West Bank
... but it doesn't weaken or destroy Israel, so I guess the Arabs would not be interested in it.
Easy solution: 1) The Palestinian state in line with International law: the West bank, east jerusalem, gaza 2) israel, wiht the Israeli population which abides by International law, is peace-loving and democratic 3) a settler state in the desert of Negev for settler groups and rightists, who will help make the desert bloom
The most sensible proposal anyone's had on the subject since the 1800s!
Israel is broken..
This man is no more a "leader of Israel" than Tom Cruse is a leader of the USA. The fact that he has a following (In Tom's case, the Scientologists) in Israel, doesn't make him an Israeli leader. He is a Settler & represents them only. Not Israel.
as far as Israel is concerned, she's one of the few financial success stories going, and a nation that has no natural resources. ( just brains, folks in addition to her war record of never losing ) No revolts there due to a broken system of governance that set the arab world aflame. Get real.
I am sure the billions of US taxes don't have anything to do with it?
This cat and mouse game cannot go on for ever. Once and for all the west and the Arabs must convince the Palestinians to join up with Jordan which historicly was Palistine with a comprimise of land swops comming from both Israel and Jordan.
This cat and mouse game cannot go on for ever. Once and for all the west and the Arabs must convince the Palestinians to join up with Jordan which historicly was Palistine with a comprimise of land swops comming from both Israel and Jordan.
I agree with you Ali , they should all work out a peacefull formular where Jordan and the Palestinians live as one nation if not sooner than later the Palestinians will one day try and take over Jordan .
I wondered where Ahmadi got that hair brained idea about Jordan. And why should the West try to convince anybody? What are you offering? How much would you pay Jordan? The US is broke.
They don't mind Jordan but they certainly see themselves as being as far removed from being Jordanians as you do - it's only something you can believe in if you try your hardest to ignore anything which resembles fact, or have never actually talked to a Palestinian
as someone mentioned before, this guy was born and raised in Argentina, and has done nothing but made a fool out of himself with EVERYTHING he has said
they've had a free ride so far, stolen land in prime location. Expect their rates to be eye watering!
...a majority of the israelis says yes to a specific and future peacedeal, and if there will be a strong and courageous Prime Minister in Israel, and if the palestinians finally get their act together and achieves real unity - and reconciliation, among themselves and with us, the israelis. But will all this happen, and if yes - when? Listen friends - I don´t know. Ok?
Then Sir, you should stay and be made to feel welcome by the Palestinians... in a Palestinian State. The Palestinians need to go on the offensive now: reveal what the settlers status will be in a Palestinian State; show the world, and Israel: One State where all are equal regardless of ethnicity. This is the moment.
But lets face facts - no Muslim country has ever treated a Jewish minority properly. There is no way a Palestinian State, especial one born out of Violence & terrorism (no matter, what excuse you use, targeting civilians IS terrorism), will ever treat a Jewish ex-Israeli minority - as an equal. Only a highly deluded mind would think otherwise.
Do you know of a Jewish state (born out of violence and terrorism) which treats its non-Jewish minority as equals?
you forget that Jews were safest for over a millennia in Arab Muslim countries where for the most part Jews experienced no more persecution than other minority groups such as Christians - certainly far less than in Europe in the same period.
A story of a prostitute and her price.
The prostitute analogy is not applicable here, since a prostitute must "own" herself and her desirable body. Whereas this article refers to illegal settlers who have built illegal homes on private Palestinian land.
eacuation with compensation is correct, because the land was baught and owned by Israel, despite all the wars
The westbank is part of Israel.
If the West Bank is part of Israel when do the Palestinians get the vote?