PM raises possibility of settlers remaining in Palestinian state

[Behind the Aegis]

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert surprised participants at a Nobel Prize winners conference in Petra on Thursday when he broached the possibility of Israeli settlers in the West Bank remaining in their homes under Palestinian sovereignty.

"Each and every one of the settlers who live in territories that stand to be evacuated will need to decide whether to live in a Jewish state, the state of Israel, or in a Palestinian state," Olmert said.

Olmert made his remarks in response to a question from Hebrew University Professor - and Nobel laureate in economics - Yisrael (Robert) Aumann, who asked the prime minister whether he intends "to expel tens of thousands of people from their homes" by way of the convergence plan, which he described as "a crime against humanity."

Justice Minister Haim Ramon said Friday that he doesn't think having settlers live under Palestinian sovereignty is either realistic or the right thing to do.


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[Selatius]

1. A crime against humanity?

I guess moving one's own population into occupied territory isn't an equally egregious crime?

[Behind the Aegis]

2. 2 wrongs don't make 1 right.

[Selatius]

4. Are you saying those settlers should not be removed from the West Bank?

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Yes.

[Selatius]

6. Then you are saying they should live under the future state of Palestine?

If they so choose not to move? Or are you saying the pieces of land in the West Bank they live on should be considered Israel's permanently?

[Behind the Aegis]

7. They would be citizens of Palestine.

It is just as Olmert says, "Each and every one of the settlers who live in territories that stand to be evacuated will need to decide whether to live in a Jewish state, the state of Israel, or in a Palestinian state,""

[Canuckistanian]

3. Put it to a vote of the residents

That should settle it. :sarcasm:

[meti57b]

8. That is exactly what needs to happen ....

Create the Palestinian state. Settlers who choose to not voluntarily relocate to Israel, become citizens of the Palestinian state.

[Scorpio2000]

9. PA minister: Settlers not welcome in Palestine

Palestinian minister Sheikh Nayef Rajoub says Olmert’s statement that West Bank settlers could live in Palestinian state is clearly unrealistic. ‘We don't want them, and I'm sure that they, considering their arrogance and violence, don't accept the idea either’
Ali Waked


Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's statement that Jewish settlers would be allowed to remain in Palestinian territory after the pullout from the West Bank, is irrelevant, Sheikh Nayef Rajoub, waqf and religious affairs minister in the Palestinian Authority told Ynet Friday.


"The settlers' behavior meted out a death sentence to any possibility of coexistence between us and them," he stated.
Realignment Plan

PM: Settlers would be allowed to remain in PA / Smadar Peri
In meeting with Nobel Prize laureates Olmert says that in framework of withdrawal from parts of West Bank, settlers would be allowed to choose if they want to move into Israel's borders or stay in areas controlled by PA


Well then. The PA will remain Judenrein.