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Sharon orders "zero tolerance" for pullout opponents-
 Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the army to show zero tolerance towards troops who refuse to evacuate Jewish settlers from the occupied Gaza Strip, officials said on Wednesday. Sharon met with the military's top officials on Wednesday, including Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and army chief of staff Moshe Yaalon. The Prime Minister stressed that the army "must make no concessions and demonstrate a firm resolve" regarding the growing disobedience calls for Israeli soldiers. "The army is there to carry out the orders it is given," Sharon added. However, he demanded the army to show "sensitivity" during the evacuation. According to Sharon's disengagement plan, about 8,000 settlers will be removed from all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four West Bank enclaves by next year. "We must show sensitivity and understand the pain of the settlers who are good citizens of Israel," Sharon said. The ultra-nationalist Rempart movement started a campaign recently to persuade over 10,000 troops to refuse any commands to carry out the evacuation. In June, rabbis representing the settler movement ruled that Sharon's plan violates Jewish law and said that troops should not participate in evacuating settlers. Posted by: Fred 2004-12-30 |
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