THE majority of Gaza settlers due to be moved from their homes in three months have said that they would be prepared to settle in a virgin coastal region in Israel if their attempt to reverse the Government’s withdrawal plan fails.

But the families said in a joint letter that they were still opposed to leaving their homes in 21 Jewish settlements. They set out tough conditions for any move, which officials said would be impossible to fulfil.

A senior official in the office of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister, dismissed the demand by 1,000 families, out of about 1,600 likely to be moved, as an attempt to stall the disengagement plan, scheduled to begin on August 15.

Yet Avner Shimoni, a settlers’ leader in Gush Katif, denied that the reluctant acceptance to relocate to Nitzanim, an undeveloped area of sand dunes, represented any weakening of their resolve.

The Government gave settlers a deadline of yesterday to sign up to transfer to Nitzanim or face losing perks such as priority for interim housing.

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