Some 30 percent of the approximately 100,000 residents of settlements in the West Bank east of the security barrier and outside the major blocs would voluntarily evacuate even in the absence of an agreement with the Palestinians. This is the major finding of a 2013 comprehensive survey for Blue White Future.
The survey also found that nearly 50 percent of the 100,000 settlers would voluntarily evacuate after an agreement, while 40 percent said they would not.
Of those settlers willing to evacuate voluntarily absent an agreement, nearly three-quarters preferred to relocate to within the “green line” (pre-1967 borders), and one-quarter to the settlement blocs that would be annexed pursuant to an agreement. For those willing to evacuate after an agreement, preferences were somewhat flipped: 55 percent chose the settlement blocs; 45 percent to within the pre-1967 borders.
The survey examined many other aspects of these settlers’ preferences and motivations. For example, the age group of settlers most willing to relocate voluntarily before an agreement in exchange for compensation is 50-59, with nearly half saying they would. The age group least willing is 18-29, with just over 10 percent saying they would.
It also identified the three primary motivation factors for settlers’ willingness to evacuate: financial compensation (42.6 percent), employment or vocational training (35.6 percent) and a sustainable peace agreement (31.6 percent).