Israel’s government is holding its first discussion of legislation that would pay Jewish settlers to leave their homes in the West Bank even before a peace deal is signed with the Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says ahead of a Cabinet meeting Sunday that a peace agreement would require evacuating settlers and the country needs to “begin thinking about these issues.”

He says adequate preparations were not made before Israel forcefully pulled its settlers out of Gaza in 2005.

The proposal is still far from being approved, and Olmert says the government will not even vote on it.

A settler umbrella group has condemned the discussion. Members of Olmert’s government say the subject should be discussed only after new borders are agreed upon.