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Israeli soldiers scuffle with Jewish settlers gathering around and atop an Israeli army bulldozer on its way to demolish former resort homes outside the Jewish settlement of Shirat Hayam in the southern Gaza Strip. (AP)
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06/27
Haaretz |
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners June 27, 2005 |
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Israeli soldiers clashed with Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip, as the military, in its first such operation, knocked down 11 abandoned buildings next to the seaside settlement of Shirat Hayam in the Gaza strip.
According to some reports, the IDF did so in light of concerns that settlers would turn them into barricaded strongholds ahead of the disengagement.
Settlers, who declared a new outpost atop the ruins of the beachfront cottages (dubbed "Tal Yam", or "Dew of the Sea") shouted epithets at soldiers, climbed on bulldozers and lay down under one of them before being dragged out one at a time by soldiers. Neither side resorted to arms or real violence, and the military said 20 people -- 10 on each side -- were injured, none of them seriously.
"We came back last night (Sunday), we set up three tents. Every time a construction will be razed we will not leave it at that -- there will be a response," one of the settlers told Israel Radio on Monday.
Five protesters were arrested, and a soldier was taken away after siding with the protesters.
In the end, the structures were knocked down as planned. But the scene foretold of the trouble that could emerge when soldiers and police try to remove settlers from their houses. Security officials have warned that extremists among the settlers could open fire, and the military may be forced to use stronger means than the hands of unarmed soldiers if they are to complete the pullout.
The buildings demolished Sunday were former resort cottages that were abandoned after Israel captured Gaza 38 years ago.
Pullout opponents had planned on moving into the structures to reinforce resistance during the withdrawal. The cottages are near a derelict beachfront hotel in Gaza where hundreds of opponents have already barricaded themselves.
As the troops arrived to carry out the demolitions, they were confronted by several dozen young protesters, shouting "Jews don't expel Jews."
During the operation, a soldier, 19-year-old Avi Biber, refused to participate in the demolition of the homes, defining himself as a "conscientious objector." He began shouting and expressing support for the demonstrators. The army said the soldier's weapon was confiscated, and he was escorted away.
"This is not justice," the soldier, Avi Bieber, told reporters as he was led away. The army issued a statement saying Bieber refused a disciplinary hearing, and demanded a court martial instead. An officer would decide what measures would be followed, the statement said.
Hannah Apickar, a resident of Shirat Hayam, said Sunday's scuffle was a sign of things to come. "We don't want a civil war, we're against a civil war," Apickar told Channel 2 TV. "We haven't been violent, but you have to understand that when we see something like this here, we shall oppose it. We shall not let the bulldozers reach our area."
The government has offered compensation and new homes to uprooted settlers. On Sunday, the Israeli Cabinet sweetened the offer by approving additional concessions, including deeply discounted land in a prime coastal area not far from Gaza.
The AP contributed to this report.
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