Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is set to discuss on Wednesday the possible transfer of the northern Israeli town of Ghajar, half of which now lies on Lebanese territory since Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, to Lebanese hands.
The town's residents, who are Arab, have rejected the idea.
Local council head Ahmed Fatali stated, "We have been approached before with this evacuation idea, and residents strongly opposed it," according to Haaretz.
"This is our land and our homes," he said.
Despite the villagers' reluctance, Israeli military authorities have recommended the move for security purposes, as they view Israel's border with Lebanon in the town as a possible access point for Hizbullah in southern Lebanon to enter Israel and carry out attacks.
Recently, an attack was launched by Hizbullah in the region in an attempt to abduct Israeli soldiers.
A checkpoint currently stands at the entrance to the village, and only vehicles belonging to Ghajar residents are allowed to enter.
Several right-wing Israeli parties have endorsed the idea, claiming that the transfer would allow them to retain Jewish settlements in the West Bank in a future agreement with the Palestinians.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the right-wing Israel Our Home party, stated, "the withdrawal would make it legitimate to trade territory and population, so that a Jewish majority in the land of Israel is assured for many generations."
So too, Israel's National Union party maintains. The party has supported the transfer of other Arab-Israeli towns in Israel's "triangle" region in return for Israeli sovereignty over West Bank settlements.
Six possible solutions to the Ghajar question will be addressed by Sharon at Wednesday's meeting.
Meanwhile, Sharon, who suffered a stroke last week, is expected to under a catherization procedure on Thursday in the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem. The procedure it considered "low risk," and Sharon is set to be released on Friday.
