JERUSALEM — Israel has assigned about 45,000 troops and police to
carry out the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank
and evict their 10,000 residents.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the operation was expected to last no
more than four weeks and begin within 48 hours of the Aug. 15 deadline, Middle East Newsline reported.
Mofaz said the military would seek to complete the withdrawal as quickly as
possible.
"The army will remain for several weeks afterwards to complete the
evacuation of its bases and complete its redeployment in Israel," Mofaz
said.
Officials said many of the soldiers would be reservists
mobilized for the withdrawal, scheduled for August. They said 17 reserve
battalions have been summoned.
Officials said the military planned to deploy 41,000 soldiers for the
withdrawal. The soldiers would be joined by 3,800 police officers.
The military was expected to begin the operation with the evacuation of
four Israeli communities in the northern West Bank. Officials said the
military was prepared for all scenarios, including the prospect of armed
clashes with Israeli residents and their supporters.
Officials said the withdrawal effort would cost about $2 billion. They
said the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon planned to ask the United
States for at least $500 million in aid to finance the withdrawal.
An Israeli delegation was scheduled to arrive in Washington next week to
discuss the request, officials said. They said the aid would help the
military relocate its bases from the Gaza Strip and develop desert areas for
agriculture allocated to evicted Israeli farmers.
