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Jewish settlers block the way to an army jeep at the entrance of the Jewish settlement of Neve Dekalim in the Gush Katif bloc of settlements in the southern Gaza Strip, shortly after midnight Monday. (AP)
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08/15
Ynetnews |
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| By israelinsider staff and partners August 15, 2005 |
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After a night of clashes, hundreds of IDF soldiers marched into Neve Dekalim early Monday to deliver eviction notices. After attempting to breach the main gate, soldiers entered via the back industrial zone and were blocked by crowds of settlers, burning tires and forming human chains. Settlers at Ganei Tal also blocked soldiers, who left before handing out notices. All settlers are to be informed today that they have until 12 a.m. Tuesday to leave voluntarily.
Some 20 small tanks, several hundred soldiers, and a fire truck made their way into Neve Dekalim around 11 a.m. The army's goal is to distribute eviction notices but it is not clear that they have yet succeeded to do so.
Settlers at Ganei Tal also tried to block the entry of soldiers. After two hours of discussion between residents and commanders of security forces, busloads of police and army turned around and left the community without delivering eviction notices.
All settlers are meant to be informed today that they have until 12 a.m. Tuesday to leave voluntarily.
Those ignoring that final deadline will lose up to one-third of their compensation.
Residents at the Gaza settlement of Ganei Tal started Monday morning to block the entry gate to the community in a bid to prevent the arrival of IDF officers.
The forces were scheduled to arrive at the settlement at 7 a.m. Monday in order to hand settlers the evacuation notice. The residents also blocked the entry of media crews who arrived with representatives of the IDF's Spokesperson's Office to cover the handing of the notices.
In the meantime, dozens of men at Neve Dekalim wrapped in white prayer shawls (tallit) held roadside morning prayers, while teens -- many sporting orange ribbons, the color of defiance -- danced in circles.
Soldiers planned to fan out across the Jewish settlements to deliver the notices. Shortly after 8 a.m., army convoys reached the first two settlements, Nissanit and Netzer Chazani. Troops were to go from house to house, knock on doors and hand over the notices. Settlers will be told they have one last chance, until midnight Tuesday, to leave voluntarily. Those ignoring the that final deadline will lose up to one-third of their compensation.
However, in Neve Dekalim and other settlements there were few signs that residents would cooperate.
"Who dares to do battle with God," read one protester's T-shirt. "Brother, don't expel me," said another.
In the meantime, there were exchanges of fire early Monday between soldiers and Palestinians near the Kfar Darom settlement, and mortar shells fell in two settlements and near an army base. No casualties were reported.
Overnight, after the Kissufim crossing was sealed off, several hundred settlers clashed with soldiers at the Neve Dekalim entry gate.
The settlers also punctured the tires of three army jeeps that were escorting two buses out of the settlement.
A clash broke out at the scene and the jeeps had to turn back. The two buses were carrying IDF and police officers who spoke with settlers slated for evacuation. Several hundred people gathered in the area when the officers attempted to leave the settlement.
Police Brigadier General Aharon Franco personally guarded the two buses, stopping every few minutes to confront settlers who interfered with the flow of traffic.
Protesters lit fires along the road forcing the buses to travel for some two and a half hours before being able to exit Gush Katif.
Under the pullout plan, Israel will remove all 21 Jewish settlements from Gaza as well as four enclaves in the West Bank. While many of Gaza's 8,500 residents have already left, the army estimates that several thousand people remain, including settler supporters who infiltrated Gaza.
Settler leaders have promised to resist without resorting to violence, though security officials fear extremists might violate that pledge.
The withdrawal marks the first time Israel would dismantle settlements in areas captured in the 1967 Mideast War and claimed by the Palestinians for their future state. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon believes the withdrawal will improve Israeli security by reducing friction with the Palestinians.
"It's a painful and difficult day, but it's a historic day," Israel's defense minister Shaul Mofaz, told Army Radio.
At the small settlement of Netzer Chazani, resident Anita Tucker said only one of the 70 families has left, and 17 others would leave Monday.
The others would resist without violence, she said. Speaking before soldiers came with eviction orders, Tucker, 59, originally from Brooklyn, New York, said hundreds of people came to reinforce the settlement. "We know we can't fight the Israeli army. We don't want to," she said. "We are the Israeli army."
Israeli officials, police commanders and army officers were determined to carry out the evacuation, known as "disengagement." Israel's Cabinet was to meet later Monday and give final approval for removal of additional Gaza settlements in a step seen as a formality.
The pullout got underway after months of political wrangling and mass protests. The complex operation began at midnight Sunday, when soldiers lowered a road barrier at the Kissufim Crossing, signaling that it had become illegal for Israelis to be in Gaza. As the barrier went down, a traffic light changed from green to red.
Thousands of Palestinian police, meanwhile, moved into positions near Jewish settlements to keep away Palestinian crowds and prevent attacks by militants during the pullout -- something that Israel warned would bring harsh retaliation.
Palestinian residents watched settlers packing up, and seeing moving trucks leave settlements dispelled the skepticism many Palestinians felt until the last minute.
"They are actually leaving. Who would have ever thought?" said Palestinian farmer Ziyad Satari, 40, standing on the roof of his three-story home in the Palestinian town of Khan Younis, which overlooks the Morag settlement.
Hundreds of supporters of the militant Islamic Jihad group celebrated in Gaza City on Sunday, with gunmen firing in the air, and teens setting off fire crackers and distributing sweets.The violent Hamas group organized special midnight prayers of thanks at Gaza mosques.
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas offered the Israelis reassurance.
"We tell the Israeli people, 'You have chosen the right path,"' he told Channel 10 TV. "Don't listen to the voices of the extremists who want a continuation of the occupation. I don't want -- and I will not accept -- any clashes with the army or the settlers."
For more news about the execution of the disengagement, check out: Disengagement Days
The AP contributed to this report.
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