TEL AVIV — Israel's military has established 17-member teams for the
eviction of an estimated 10,000 Jews from the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
The teams would be composed of police and soldiers and have been
exercising in a new facility in the Negev Desert. The exercise was meant to
culminate in the withdrawal operation on Aug. 17.
"It's a completely new operation for us in every way," a senior officer
said. "We have never planned operations for soldiers inexperienced in
ground combat or worked together with civilian police. The target is also
completely different as we are not talking about an enemy force."
Under the plan, an evacuation force would be comprised of 17 members,
commanded by an officer with the rank of at least major. Many of the members
would be non-commissioned officers and career soldiers rather than recruits.
Officers said each crew has been assigned and briefed on the homes for
evacuation. They said the size of the unit was based on the assumption that
four soldiers or police would be required to physically evict one Israeli
resident. The evacuation teams would not carry weapons.
The teams would comprise the first of six circles established under the
withdrawal operation. In all, about 4,000 police and soldiers would evict
the Israeli residents. They would be supported by a second circle composed
of air force cadets who would stop resistors from entering Israeli
communities.
The military has assessed that at least half of the Israeli residents
would not fight the military force. But the military has assigned special
forces units to respond to the threat of either live fire or suicide threats
among the residents slated for expulsion.
In all, about 55,000 police and soldiers would participate in the
operation, comprising virtually all of the standing army and most of the
police. Another 10,000
reservists would be drafted for support operations. In all, two divisions,
one of them armor, would participate in the mission.
Military sources said the General Staff was concerned over the
capabilities of the eviction force. They pointed out that many of the
military personnel have been serving in administrative posts. They also
pointed to the differences between police and army personnel and the
challenge of working together.
On Monday, the joint teams completed one week of exercises at the
National Ground Training Center in Tseelim. Officers said the teams would
receive at least another 10 days of training.
Police and soldiers were also training to establish the two outer
circles in the withdrawal operation. These circles were designed to block
opponents of the withdrawal from entering the Gaza Strip. On July 13, the
Gaza Strip was closed to non-resident Israelis.
The third and fourth circles were established to protect Israeli
forces and residents from Palestinian attacks. Circle 3 was comprised of
ground forces and Circle 4 consisted largely of armor and elite units.
