Around the World: Israel

Govt mulls evacuation bill

Israel's government is holding its first discussion of legislation that would pay Jewish settlers to leave their homes in the West Bank even before a peace deal is signed with the Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says a peace agreement would require evacuating settlers and the country needs to "begin thinking about these issues." He says adequate preparations were not made before Israel forcefully pulled its settlers out of Gaza in 2005.