Redrawing Israel's Borders Angers Israelis and Palestinians

March 28, 2006 — -- The Rubins are making sure every person in their West Bank settlement gets out to vote because redrawing Israel's borders may ease tensions but it will drastically limit their freedom.

David and Lisa Rubin moved to Israel from New York 15 years ago. They settled in the settlement of Shilo where they have raised six children.

Lisa is terrified that her family will be pulled out of its home if Israelis vote for leading candidate Ehud Olmert.

"I have been here for a few election days, but this election day means so much to all of us," she said.

Wrong Side of the Fence

Olmert is promising to draw the final borders of Israel, which are expected to follow the route of the wall or security fence now being built.

The new borders will separate Palestinians from Israelis permanently, a popular proposal among war-weary Israelis.

But it also cuts off about 70,000 Israelis like the Rubins, who have homes in settlements.

The plan is a continuation of Ariel Sharon's effort to consolidate a Jewish-majority state, which began with the pullout from the Gaza Strip last summer.

Sharon has been in a coma for almost three months since suffering a massive stroke. It's unclear whether Israelis want Olmert to implement Sharon's plan or believe he can.

Both right-wing and left-wing candidates have been gaining in the polls in the last few days, accusing Olmert of giving land back to the Palestinians for nothing in return and refusing to negotiate with the Palestinians at all.

Olmert says he will implement the plan, with or without the Palestinians.

New Borders To Limit Freedom?

Olmert's election platform has also enraged Ismail Haniya, the Palestinians' prime minister-designate. Haniya is calling Olmert's plan a declaration of war.

Olmert's new borders also will make the checkpoints throughout the West Bank into international border crossings, making it even more difficult for Palestinians to move around the West Bank.

In Shilo, David Rubin is promising a fight.

"We will do everything within the democratic process to stop Olmert. We can do everything within moral acceptability to stop Olmert," he said.

Polls indicate up to 20 percent of Israelis are undecided and will only make up their minds about whom to vote for inside the polling booth today.