The Philadelphia Jewish Voice September 2005 > Gaza > Update

Gaza Disengagement Update

• In coordination with Israel, the PA deployed 7,500 police officers in the areas surrounding the settlements in order to prevent attacks during the pullout. A joint Israeli-Palestinian operations center was set up on the Gaza border to facilitate coordination during disengagement. 
• According to the Disengagement Administration, 832 families have already evacuated the Gaza Strip and five settlements (Nissanit, Dugit, Shalev, Peat Sadeh and Rafiah Yam) were completely empty by midnight on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, the start of the forceful evacuation stage, 700 families and several thousand infiltrators remained in Gaza. 
• On Wednesday, IDF and police troops completed the forceful evacuation of the settlements Kerem Azmona, Bedolah, Morag and Tel Katifa. In Neveh Dekalim, clashes continued between troops and protesters, with 15 Chabad activists barricading themselves in a bomb-shelter and threatening to set fire to themselves. In Ganei Tal, all but two families evacuated voluntarily. 
• The IDF announced it will evacuate Netzarim on Monday. The IDF reported that by 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, 65% of the Gaza Strip settlers had already left. IDF sources, citing relatively fast progress, said evacuation might be completed by early next week.

Anti-disengagement activity:

• Police arrested three far-right extremists who attempted to force their way onto the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 
• Settlers clashed with IDF troops in the northern West Bank after the army attempted to seal the evacuation area. 
• Dozens of police officers received telephone calls from United States residents who identified themselves as members of the Chabad movement, demanding they refuse to carry out evacuations. During the forcible evacuation of Morag, an anti-disengagement activist stabbed a woman soldier with a syringe.
  

Palestinian Democracy:

• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas described Israel's evacuation from the Gaza Strip as an "historical moment," but added that Israel must also withdraw from the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the future. 
• PA President Abbas announced Palestinian legislative elections for January 21, 2006.
• Palestinians across Gaza held victory processions to celebrate the start of the evacuation.