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Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners July 13, 2005 |
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| Protester clash with soldiers at an entrance to Gaza. (AP) |
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PM Ariel Sharon has instructed the IDF to close off the Gaza and four Samarian settlements to non-residents, saying that the closure will not be lifted before the planned retreat has been completed. Intended to blunt anti-pullout protests, Sharon's move has been condemned by settlers as "the first time in history that a Jewish Prime Minister declared part of Israel Jew-free." Expulsion opponents vow to actively oppose the move and break the siege.
The Israeli military early Wednesday closed off the Gaza Strip and four settlements in Samaria to Jewish non-residents to prevent anti-disengagement protestors from entering the Jewish settlements slated for evacuation and destruction. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the closure, declaring them closed military areas.
The step also gave security forces the authority to remove any non-residents who are already in the doomed settlement areas.
According to a statement from Sharon's office, he had met with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra and the heads of various security forces on Tuesday, when they agreed in theory to seal off the communities slated for evacuation next month.
The actual decision, to be distinguished from the temporary closure imposed two weeks ago to allow Israeli security forces to evacuate a hotel where anti-pullout activists had barricaded themselves, came after two Islamic Jihad terror attacks rocked the Samarian settlement of Shavei Shomron and the Sharon mall in Netanya, where four women were killed and over 90 others, injured.
The closure also means that Palestinians will not be allowed to enter Israel.
Israeli soldiers set up a roadblock Wednesday morning and began turning away all those without residence permits.
At the Kissufim crossing into the Gush Katif cluster of Gaza settlements, long lines began forming almost as soon as soldiers set up the roadblock. Soldiers took those trying to enter without residence permits aside and turned them away. Some of those turned away began arguing with the soldiers, but most left quietly.
In recent months, scores of people opposed to the pullout moved into empty houses and tents in the settlements in preparation for planned protests against the pullout.
In response to the closure, the Yesha Council said, "this is the first time in history that a Jewish prime minister blockades Jewish communities and declares a part of Israel Jews-free. This is yet another achievement on the prime minister's part in tearing the nation apart and trampling over the values of democracy and Zionism as well as the resident's human rights."
At a press conference Wednesday, an army spokesman said the council's intention to hold a march with tens of thousands of participants in Gush Katif next Monday hastened the closure.
But expulsion opponents vowed to demonstrate en masse at the crossing points from within and without, and also to shut down traffic nationwide each monday and wednesday.
Hundreds of Gaza residents are reportedly marching toward the Kissufim crossing point early Wednesday afternoon.
The AP contributed to this report.
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