The settlers who make an outcry, threaten violence and desecrate the memory of the holocaust victims are not quiet inhabitants living in their homes. Therefore, their evacuation from the occupied terriotires does not constitute " expulsion " or " ethnic cleansing. " The founders and leaders of the settlement movement, starting with Rabbi Levinger (“the rabbi with the pistol”) who led settlers to the heart of Hebron immediately in 1967, have come to the occupied territories as invaders, in order to rob from the Palestinian people the remnant of its land, and suffocate the inhabitants of Palestinian towns and villages in narrow enclaves.

The settlers were not " sent " by the government of Israel , but sent themselves in order to create " facts on the ground " and implement a mad nationalist-messianic project not shared by most Israelis – not even by most Likud voters. They have used a mixture of violence, threats and manipulation of government weakness in order to gradually obtain generous financing for their settlements from the public purse, and close guard by the army.

Later they were joined by " quality-of-life settlers " who were seduced to move into heavily-subsidized villas on occupied land. But they, too, knew very well from the first moment that there act is highly controversial. From the creation of the first structure in the first settlement, and on every single day in all the years since, there was an unrelenting campaign by a considerable part of the Israeli political spectrum expressing outspoken opposition to the entire settlement project. This, aside from the fact that the entire international community, including Israel 's main ally the United States , made abundantly clear that they were opposed to the creation of settlements in occupied territory, which constitutes a severe violation of International Law.

The settlers knew full well that sooner or later the government may decide to evacuate them from the territories they invaded, but they arrogantly ignored all protests and all warnings. They have gambled in the casino of history, gambled that they will succeed to impose their view and messianic dream upon the whole people and upon the whole world. This gamble they lost. Unlike ordinary gamblers, they find the state of Israel is ready to give them full financial compensation for their losses. More than that the settlers have no right to ask.

If indeed the Prime Minister intends to implement his declared plan and evacuate the settlers from the Gaza Strip - which is not at all to be taken for granted, in spite of Sharon 's pious pledges - such an act would get the support of the large majority of the Israeli public. The Israeli public is ready and ripe for a long time already to the evacuation of the settlements - in the Gaza Strip as well as in the West Bank .

For more information :

Gush Shalom Spokesperson Adam Keller: 03-5565804 / 050-6709603