The Hindu : International : Israel begins historic pull-out

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 16, 2005

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International

Israel begins historic pull-out

Atul Aneja

Residents given two days to leave Gaza and some areas in the West Bank

MANAMA: Israel has begun its historic pullout from the Gaza strip, marking the end of 38-years of occupation of a part of Palestinian land by settlers and troops.

About half of Gaza's 8,500 settlers spread across 21 settlements have already left. Residents have been given two days of time to leave all settlements in Gaza and some in the West Bank. Out of 120 settlements in the West Bank housing an estimated 230,000 Israelis, four will be dismantled.

Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas described the Gaza evacuation as a "historical moment". "We see this as a historical moment, as Israel is leaving the settlements for the first time since the beginning of the Arab-Israeli conflict," he was quoted as saying. Palestinians have been celebrating overnight as Israel's withdrawal from Gaza began.

Many Palestinians headed for mosques to give thanks in a mass prayer meeting called by the militant group Hamas. An estimated 7,500 Palestinian security forces have been positioned on the fringes of the settlements, to prevent armed attacks on settlers, and block possible attempts by Palestinians to rush into the settlements.

Despite the ultimatum, many settlers were resisting evacuation. In the settlement of Neve Dekalim, residents vowing non-violent resistance confronted soldiers who had arrived to serve evacuation notices, and blocked the gates. Some residents used makeshift barricades and their bodies to obstruct troops. Bearded men stood at the main entrance praying for divine intervention amid settlers who used loudspeakers to dissuade soldiers from enforcing orders. Some protesters were seen scuffling with the police, and pelting policemen with balloons filled with paint while others set fire to tyres.

On Sunday night, settlers and troops also clashed near the northern West Bank settlements of Sa-Nur and Shavei Shomron. Sa-Nur is one of the four settlements in the northern West Bank to be evacuated.

Eviction notice

More than 40,000 Israeli soldiers and police are being sent to hand out eviction notices on Monday and Tuesday. In an apparent bid to avoid early confrontations, the army said it had decided not to go into five of the settlements, widely seen as strongholds of resistance, until evacuation day.

Settlers who would ignore the deadline would be forcibly removed. They could lose up to a third of their compensation, which ranges from $150,000 to $400,000 per family.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon blamed the clashes on young people who had infiltrated into the Gaza settlements.

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