Less Israelis support pull-out
2005-06-03 14:34
Jerusalem - Israeli public support for the planned pullout from the Gaza Strip has fallen from more than 60% in recent months to just 50%, according to an opinion poll published on Friday.
The poll, in the daily newspaper, Maariv, said 34% opposed the pullout due to start in August, while 12% were undecided.
A total of 531 people were questioned and the survey had a margin of error of 4.1%.
Israeli soldiers and about 8 000 settlers from 21 settlements were due to quit the Gaza Strip along with settlers from four other small settlements in the north of the West Bank.
Haaretz newspaper, meanwhile, said 60 farmers in the main Gaza settlement of Gush Katif had signed compensation accords with the Israeli authorities.
It said the 60, out of a total 166, would be given 160ha blocs, near Zikim Kibbutz, in the south of Israel, while 20 others would get land near Ashkelon.
The paper said, Israeli authorities were continuing to negotiate with a third group, with offers of land either in Israel's Negev desert or in Gallilee.
A recent spike in Israeli-Palestinian violence in Gaza had seen some military officials call for the pullout to be delayed.
Palestinian factions had warned that continued aggression was jeopardising a de facto truce.
- SAPA