- Israel plans to pay an average of $300,000 (£164,500)
per family in compensation to settlers who leave the Gaza Strip, government
officials said yesterday.
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- The cash advances would be handed over swiftly to those
who go voluntarily and could be available by August. The draft proposal
has been put forward by a government committee working out the details
of a Gaza pull-out plan, which Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's cabinet has
approved in principle.
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- Payouts made before a cabinet vote, planned for March
2005, on whether to begin removing settlements, could force a showdown
between Mr Sharon and hardliners in his coalition, bringing it closer to
collapse, political analysts said.
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- Eran Sternberg, a spokesman for the Gaza settlers, said
most had signed a declaration refusing to leave or to negotiate payouts.
Government officials estimated the average payout per household at $300,000,
enough for a one-family house or a large apartment in many parts of Israel.
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- Settlers will have until September 1, 2005 to move out
before the army remove them by force. Those evicted by soldiers would get
less compensation or none at all. The military would then quit Gaza by
October 1, 2005.
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- © 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=530694
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