Leaders of Israeli settlers living in the Gaza Strip met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today to discuss the forthcoming withdrawal of Israeli settlements from the area. Although the settlers remain opposed to the plan and have threatened violent resistance, today, they tried to find ways to compromise.

The plan that was discussed but not yet approved would have the government move the settlers together to new neighborhoods in Israel along the Mediterranean coast near the town of Nitzan, 12 miles north of the Gaza Strip.

'We understand that there is no choice. We are one people, we want to remain one people, so that's why we met with the prime minister,' Eliezer Yaakov, a representative of the Gan Or settlement told the Associated Press after the two hour meeting with Sharon.

The Gaza Regional Council which represents approximately 8,500 settlers presently living in the Gaza Strip still opposes the withdrawal but if the withdrawal does occur, favors the Nitzan plan as the best available alternative.

The two sides agreed to meet again in 10 days. There are still many obstacles to be resolved including where the settlers should live until the new towns are constructed. Still, this is the first sign that settlers are willing to cooperate with the government rather than using violence to oppose the withdrawal from Gaza.

Prime Minister Sharon is scheduled to meet with President Bush at his Texas ranch on Monday.