Peretz urged the Knesset on Friday to quickly pass a law that would enable the government to pay residents in Judea and Samaria to leave their homes before the next expulsion. He said he hopes to begin destroying Jewish communities within the next 18 months.
Justice Minister Chaim Ramon suggested a similar plan several weeks ago, saying the government should pay residents on the other side of the security fence to leave their homes, as soon as the barrier is completed.
A senior government official said Peretz jumped the gun with the recommendation, which has not yet been discussed in depth within the political circles.
Paying voluntary evacuees before an expulsion creates a dilemma for Olmert administration. Israel has not yet officially completed the details on the unilateral withdrawal plan, including a deadline for its implementation. Offering compensation to residents who voluntarily leave their homes would by default, publicly define the specific communities to be destroyed even before the plan is complete.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refrained from making any comments on plans for voluntary evacuation, other than to call it an “interesting idea.”
In June 2004, MSNBC reported the Israeli government had offered an average of $300,000 to each family who volunteered to leave their Gush Katif and Samaria communities ahead of the planned expulsion. The plan was approved by the Knesset in a 95-40 vote in February 2005.
To date, government payments to refugees from the destroyed communities including voluntary evacuees have not been completed, and an overwhelming majority of expelled residents remain unemployed. In addition, less than a third of those who owned independent businesses have rebuilt them.
Justice Minister Chaim Ramon suggested a similar plan several weeks ago, saying the government should pay residents on the other side of the security fence to leave their homes, as soon as the barrier is completed.
A senior government official said Peretz jumped the gun with the recommendation, which has not yet been discussed in depth within the political circles.
Paying voluntary evacuees before an expulsion creates a dilemma for Olmert administration. Israel has not yet officially completed the details on the unilateral withdrawal plan, including a deadline for its implementation. Offering compensation to residents who voluntarily leave their homes would by default, publicly define the specific communities to be destroyed even before the plan is complete.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refrained from making any comments on plans for voluntary evacuation, other than to call it an “interesting idea.”
In June 2004, MSNBC reported the Israeli government had offered an average of $300,000 to each family who volunteered to leave their Gush Katif and Samaria communities ahead of the planned expulsion. The plan was approved by the Knesset in a 95-40 vote in February 2005.
To date, government payments to refugees from the destroyed communities including voluntary evacuees have not been completed, and an overwhelming majority of expelled residents remain unemployed. In addition, less than a third of those who owned independent businesses have rebuilt them.