MKs Ami Ayalon and Avshalom Vilan visited the Shomron community of Shavei Shomron last week, seeking to publicize their initiative to pay Jews to leave Judea and Samaria.

The two men, together with a resident of the Samarian town of Karnei Shomron, make up the Bayit Echad organization, which seeks to induce the government to offer compensation to Jews that agree to leave areas on the eastern side of the Partition Wall.





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The two men held a parlor meeting in Shavei Shomron in an effort to drum up support and find residents who would be willing to join their advertising campaign, which includes billboards declaring: “Prime Minister Olmert, Help Us Return to Israel.”

Most residents were puzzled by their arrival, according to an IsraelNationalTV report. “What we see here in Shavei Shomron in the best Purim shpiel [satirical play] around,” said former Sa-Nur resident Yossi Dagan, now living in Shavei Shomron. “Minister Ami Ayalon and Abu Vilan have come to sell the media a sack of goods in honor of Purim. We decide to see this provocation for what it is. A spaced-out provocation by Knesset Members that are dying for some ratings.”



A residential street in Shavei Shomron. More pics

MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud) said of the visit: “It looks like Minister Ayalon, who is minister-without portfolio, has nothing to keep him busy in the government and is looking for a family in Judea and Samaria who is willing to relocate for compensation. If he asked me, I would have put him in touch with a family within the green line which would also willingly leave for money. For those who seriously want an eviction-compensation law and want to start with those who have already shown willingness, I offer a fair competition. They will evict those who want to be evicted and I will settle those who want to settle in Judea and Samaria. In six months time we will compare results and I know who is going to win.”

A spontaneous protest took place outside the home where the parlor meeting took place. “You are neglecting the children of Sderot,” one protestor yelled at the Minister and MK Vilan. “You don’t care that children die. You don’t care that children lose their legs.”

Across town, however, and even more powerful response to the event took place: a large meeting of prospective residents. By the end of the evening twelve new families had signed up to build their homes in the flowering community, located to the east of the Partition Wall.

Shavei Shomron is a budding town located 20 miles east of Netanya.