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| Israel-Palestine | |
| Army Chief Says Gaza Withdrawal Will Be Difficult Under Fire | |
| 2005-06-14 | |
| JERUSALEM (AP) - The planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this summer will be difficult if Palestinian militants wage attacks on Israeli forces trying to evacuate the settlements, although the army will still accomplish its mission, Israel's military chief said Tuesday. Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz said the delicate job of having unarmed troops forcibly evacuate resistant settlers while trying to defend against Palestinian attacks would be complex and dangerous. In that situation, the army would have to deal with the militants before it could proceed with the withdrawal, he said. "There won't be disengagement under fire," he told a news conference. However, he did not specify how much violence Israel would be willing to absorb before suspending the pullout to attack the militants.
"(It) depends on how much fire, what kind of fire, where the fire is. But in principle, there can be no fire," he said. The Israeli government has expressed concern that the militants, wanting to create the impression that their attacks are driving Israel out of Gaza, will take advantage of the pullout to attack the troops and settlers. Top Israeli officials have been working to coordinate the pullout with Palestinian leaders to prevent militant attacks during the evacuation and the Palestinian Authority has promised to give militant groups a voice in pullout plans in exchange for a promise to refrain from violence. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to meet June 21, in part to discuss the withdrawal. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al Kidwa said Tuesday that Abbas' priority in the meeting will be to reach agreement on the pullout, the implementation of a Feb. 8 cease-fire agreement, and an Israeli pullback from Palestinian towns in the West Bank. The cease-fire has brought a noticeable lull in fighting after more than four years of bloodshed. However, sporadic violence, including Israeli arrest raids and Palestinian mortar and rocket attacks, has continued. | |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 Top Israeli officials have been working to coordinate the pullout with Palestinian leaders to prevent militant attacks during the evacuation.. Just issue one warning: any attack as Israelis depart will meet with an intense bombardment of the attackers' positions, location and collateral damage be damned. ..and the Palestinian Authority has promised to give militant groups a voice in pullout plans in exchange for a promise to refrain from violence. Translation: The PA has little, if any, control over "militants", and is forced to resort to pleading and appeasement in order to get something done. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-06-14 10:37 |