Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar (Likud) said Saturday that the government should seek other solutions in the West Bank instead of settlement evacuations.
The government is considering ruling to demolish the West Bank outpost of Ulpana near the Beit El settlement, which was built from 2002 to 2008 on land purchased from Palestinians in 2000. The paper work for the sale was later judged to be unauthentic and the structures there – which house some 30 apartments – are scheduled for demolition by the end of the month. Netanyahu, however, is seeking to make homes in Ulpana an authorized part of Beit El, thus saving them from demolition.
Speaking at a 'Shabbat Tarbut' function in Kfar Saba, Sa'ar said: "Is there no reasonable solution that does not include the expulsion of Jews? The perception that peace entails the expulsion of Jews from their homes has been tested recently in Gush Katif. We've seen the results of that."
More than 8,000 settlers were evacuated from their homes in Gush Katif in 2005. Since then, rocket fire emanating from Gaza has continued unabated, often forcing Israel's southern population into bomb-shelters.
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