(Jerusalem Post) Arieh O'Sullivan - The IDF is continuing to plan to reoccupy swaths of the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip to ensure an attack-free evacuation. Senior officers said this scenario depended on the behavior of the Palestinians. The IDF has long planned to ensure there is no chance Palestinian terrorists could strike at Jewish settlements during the evacuation. Senior officers have said that if any deadly strikes occur during the evacuation they would not hesitate to use the army's full force to extinguish it. The army was also dismissive of Palestinian efforts to set up a new 5,000-man force to prevent looting of the Jewish settlements. The Palestinians were overwhelmed with 60,000 people attempting to sign up for the force. The initial evacuation is set to begin on August 17 with the northern Gaza Strip settlements of Nissanit, Alei Sinai, and Dugit. According to military sources, it would take another eight days to pack up the settlers' belongings and then bulldozers just three days to demolish the settlements.
2005-07-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive