Voluntary pullout of Gaza Strip settlers to start in August

[Gimel]

The forcible evacuation of Gaza Strip settlements will begin on September 1, 2005, and end two weeks later, but voluntary evacuation will begin this coming August, according to a working paper presented to the relevant ministries on Wednesday.

The paper, which was prepared by the National Security Council, foresees the cabinet approving the withdrawals called for under the disengagement plan in February 2005. However, residents of the settlements slated for evacuation - all the Gaza settlements plus four in the northern West Bank - will be able to leave voluntarily and receive compensation as of the beginning of August.

But government sources noted that various elements of this timetable could be changed due to political pressures.

According to the document, the freeze on development in the settlements to be evacuated took effect the minute the plan was approved by the cabinet on Sunday. Moreover, anyone who moves to one of these settlements after this date will not be eligible for compensation. That will also apparently be true for any investments made by existing settlers after this date.

Haaretz