The Israeli cabinet recently discussed a bill that would compensate West Bank settlers who are willing to evacuate voluntarily. One Home (Bayit Echad), an Israeli organization, has been lobbying for such an incentive program for the past few years.
One Home
Founded by Members of Knesset (MK) Avshalom Vilan and Colette Avital, and former Consul- General to New York Alon Pinkas, One Home promotes planned withdrawal from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and supports the right of citizens living east of the security barrier to rebuild their homes inside the pre-1967 Green Line.
Legislation
In 2005, at the behest of settlers who felt their business and day-to-day life were disrupted by the barrier and wanted to relocate without losing the value of their homes, Vilan and Avital proposed offering settlers in the 74 communities outside the security barrier financial incentives to move within the pre-1967 Green Line.
In 2007, 16 members of Knesset from the Labor and Meretz parties, headed by Vilan, Avital and Ami Ayalon, former head of Shin Bet, proposed an evacuation compensation plan to the Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs. The private proposal only received one vote and did not pass through the committee, yet Ayalon requested that it be discussed by the full cabinet. The prime minister’s office said that an evacuation compensation bill could only be approved as a government law and not as a private proposal. According to the proposal, Israel would repossess the homes of settlers who voluntarily evacuated and moved west of the Green Line. The settlers would be compensated based on the size and value of their new housing. After a final status agreement the state would have the choice to sell the homes.
Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon revived the evacuation compensation plan on September 14, 2008. He said the government should compensate settler families with approximately $300,000 with bonuses for families moving to less-populated regions in Israel. Ramon also presented a survey indicating about 18 percent, or 11,000, of the 61,000 settlers would agree to leave immediately in return for a buyout. The cabinet did not act on the proposal although Prime Minister Olmert said it was an important step in preparing the state to withdraw. Tzipi Livni, the new head of the Kadima party, opposed the plan claiming it would weaken Israel’s position in negotiations.
Public Support
One Home has bolstered its legislation with survey research. During its legislative campaign in 2005, One Home commissioned a survey that showed 35 percent of settlers and 74 percent of the general public favored a law compensating settlers who voluntarily evacuated their homes. Similarly during its legislative effort in 2007, it conducted a poll of only Jewish Israelis and found 80 percent supported a bill to compensate settlers to relocate inside the Green Line. More than 58 percent also believed there should be no delay in a deal with the Palestinians and the government must offer settlers a chance to relocate inside the Green Line.
