Israel’s foreign minister voiced support for helping those living east of the West Bank security fence to relocate.
Tzipi Livni said Sunday that a proposed evacuation and compensation law allowing West Bank settlers to move to new homes inside the fence is premature but correct in principle.
“I think that when it comes to someone who settled in a certain place, the government should allow him to leave in accordance with its agenda. In principle, having experienced the disengagement, I think it would be right to work on this as early as possible,” Livni told reporters, referring to the 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, when 8,000 settlers were evacuated.
But Livni, Israel’s chief peace negotiator with the Palestinians, said borders should be laid down before populations are shifted.
“It seems to me that it is still too early because the negotiations have not defined the future borders and therefore it is difficult to legislate,” she said.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
