JERUSALEM — Israel's military has completed a plan to expel about
10,000 Jews from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank.
Officials said the military's Planning Division has completed a plan
that would launch the expulsion of the Jews in coordination with the police
and social workers. They said the operation would begin in May 2005 and
continue for several months.
On Sunday, Israel's Cabinet voted 17-5 to implement the withdrawal plan
from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank. The ministers agreed to discuss
each stage of the plan, which would encompass the removal of 21 communities.
"The evacuation of communities from Gaza and northern Samaria is a very
difficult step," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said. "It is difficult for the
residents, for the citizens of Israel, for me and I am certain that it is
difficult for the members of the Cabinet."
After the Cabinet vote, Sharon and Mofaz signed an order to evacuate
Israeli communities in both the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank.
Officials said the operation would begin on July 20 and comprise of four
stages.
[On Monday, Israel released 500 Palestinian prisoners as part of a
series of goodwill gestures to the Palestinian Authority. PA officials
expressed dissatisfaction and called for the release of all 8,000
Palestinian inmates in Israeli jails.]
The first stage would include the evacuation of Kfar Darom, Morag and
Netsarim in the central Gaza Strip. The second stage would be the removal of
residents from four Israeli communities of the northern West Bank — Homesh,
Ganim, Kadim and Sa-nur.
The third stage of the military operation would focus on Gush Katif, the
largest bloc of Israeli communities in the Gaza Strip. The last stage in the
withdrawal would comprise of Israeli communities in the northern Gaza Strip,
Alei Sinai, Dugit and Nisanit.
"The Cabinet will reconvene shortly before the evacuation of the group,
will discuss the then existing circumstances, and will decide whether or not
the circumstances are such that they will affect the evacuation," a Cabinet
statement said.
The Gush Katif bloc in the Gaza Strip, the most populated of the areas
to be evacuated, would comprise the bulk of the military's effort. Officials
said that in May 2005, the military would block all roads to Gush Katif and
declared the community a closed zone.
In June, the police would be placed on alert for the evacuation of
communities in the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank. Officials said leave
would canceled for police starting on June 15 until September.
The evacuation of Israeli communities would begin on July 20 and could
include two areas simultaneously, officials said. They said residents would
be given five days to leave voluntarily before they are forced out of their
homes.
The military plan calls for police to expel the Israelis from their
homes at a ratio of four officers per resident. About 10,000 soldiers and
police would participate in the operation, with the army providing perimeter
security.
Officials said the police would be trained to operate in teams to
evacuate adults, women and infants. Social workers would accompany the teams
to care of children taken from their parents who resist evacuation.
Families would be placed in detention centers until the completion of
the withdrawal and evacuation. Police would evacuate homes of their
residents and movable objects would be placed into containers. The homes
would be then sealed and guarded by special officers.
"The Disengagement Plan is a national mission, the likes of which we
have not seen before," Mofaz said. "Its implementation requires great
sensitivity, determination and courage on the part of all ranks in all
forces — in the diplomatic campaign, and for the Israel Defense Forces and
the Israel Police."