Jewish Settlers Despair Before Election

[bemildred]

Jewish settlers are looking to Israel's March 28 election with growing despair. Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the front-runner, says he wants to give up large areas of the West Bank and uproot most settlements there, and the settlers do not have the political clout to stop him.

Still disheartened after last year's Gaza pullout, settlers are torn over what to do. Opinions run from collecting compensation and leaving willingly to negotiating with the government or even resisting with force.

Giving up more land is "surrendering to terror" and will bring Hamas militants, who won Jan. 25 legislative elections, "to our doorsteps," said Bentzi Lieberman, head of the settlers' council.

"We will do everything we can to stop it," he added.

Forbes

[Tom Joad]

1. Hundreds of thousands will be left in the West Bank under Olmerts plan

They will never give up the biggest settlements.
At least, not until the international community demands that Israel comply with international law.