World Tribune.com

10,000 Jews to be removed from Gaza beginning in May

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, February 21, 2005

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."


Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.

Print this Article Print this Article Email this article Email this article Subscribe to this Feature Free Headline Alerts


Google
Search Worldwide Web Search WorldTribune.com Search WorldTrib Archives