Sharon government agrees to compensate the settlers in Gaza

The Israeli government approved a draft law which states compensating the Israeli settlers who will be evacuated from Gaza in the framework of a plan by the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to withdraw from Gaza.

The decision which won the support of 13 ministers with 6 opposition gave an additional push for Sharon at a time while he is proceeding with his controversial plan. He is due to face an important battle next Tuesday when the Israeli Knesset ( parliament) will approve the withdrawal plan. Sharon hopes that the withdrawal will take place next Summer.

However, in an evidence on the opposition to Sharon's plan, even inside the right Likud party, officials say that six members of the government including five from the Likud rejected the draft law which was supported by 13 ministers.

It is expected that the settlers who will leave voluntarily 21 settlements in Gaza and 4 settlements out of 129 in the West Bank will reach $ 500,000 for every family. Those who resist to leave might by punished with an imprisonment period of five years in case weapons are found with them.