GAZA/ISRAEL: ENTRANCE TO NEVE DEKALIM SECURED BY ISRAELI ARMY, MILITANT SETTLERS DETAINED AT CHECKPOINT.

Record ID: 400179

  • Title: GAZA/ISRAEL: ENTRANCE TO NEVE DEKALIM SECURED BY ISRAELI ARMY, MILITANT SETTLERS DETAINED AT CHECKPOINT.
  • Date: 16th August 2005
  • Summary: (BN04) NEVE DEKALIM SETTLEMENT, GAZA STRIP (AUGUST 16, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/MV/GV: ISRAELI POLICE GUARDING MAIN ENTRANCE TO NEVE DEKALIM SETTLEMENT SO THAT SETTLERS DO NOT BLOCK GATES; POLICE ENSURING GATES STAY OPEN; POLICE IN STREET (5 SHOTS) 0.45 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI POLICE SPOKESMAN ELI LEVY SAYING: "The main thing why
  • Embargoed: 31st August 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEVE DEKALIM SETTLEMENT, GAZA STRIP / KISSUFIM CROSSING, ISRAEL
  • City:
  • Country: Gaza Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0RMYLPP0TJ02F7T1DV9I6QFC
  • Story Text: Entrance to Neve Dekalim is secured by Israeli Army;
    Rightist Israelis are detained overnight at checkpoint.



    Israeli troops seized the entrance to the largest
    Gaza settlement on Tuesday (August 16) in a bid to quell
    resistance as Jews in the occupied territory were given a
    last chance to leave or be forcibly removed.

    On Monday (August 15) settlers blocked the main gate
    leading into the settlement of Neve Dekalim. Hundreds
    gathered at the entrance to sing, dance and to taunt
    soldiers who looked on.

    On Tuesday morning Israeli police sawed through the
    gates and made every effort to ensure that settlers would
    not be able to block the entrance once again.

    "The main thing why we are here today is to allow the
    trucks to get inside to let those families who want to evacuate by
    thei
    r own selves, that we allow the trucks to
    get inside, that we allow them to leave Neve Dekalim. That
    is the main reason. We are not going to send anyone (the
    eviction orders), because yesterday, that was the day that
    we sent the warrant. If the people in this place don't want
    to get the warrant by their own free will, we can't force
    them to do it. This is the main thing that we are doing
    today," Israeli police spokesman Eli Levy explained.

    The eviction notices to the 9,000 settlers in all 21
    settlements in Gaza and four of 120 in the West Bank went
    into effect at midnight on Sunday (August 14), setting the
    stage for what could be one of the most traumatic events in
    the Jewish state's history. Settlers who have not abandoned
    their homes by Wednesday (August 17) will be forcibly
    removed by soldiers.

    Meanwhile Israel's police and army force continued to
    be on its highest alert at the Kissufim Crossing leading
    from Israel into the Gush Katif settlement bloc.

    The Israeli Army set up a series of roadblocks in
    southern Israel on Monday (August 15) to prevent more
    pullout foes from slipping into Gush Katif or from swamping
    exit routes inside Israel.

    Rightist Israelis detained overnight on Monday, for
    trying to enter through the crossing, waited on Tuesday
    morning in buses at the checkpoint to be driven away.

    "I came to protest the eviction edict which is illegal,
    immoral and undemocratic. Ariel Sharon turned 180 degrees
    and accepted his opponents' agenda. He made a very
    difficult decision without turning to the people and asking
    the people. It is a big moral sin, the deportation of Jews
    by Jews, when for generations and generations deportations
    were only made by peoples who were evil towards the Jews.

    Now the Jews have to look for shelter," one detainee said.

    Security will remain tight at the crossing until Israel
    completes its pullout, ensuring that no extremists will try
    to enter the settlements to scupper the withdrawal.

    Aside from some 50,000 Israeli troops and police
    assigned to pullout tasks, a 5,000-strong Palestinian force
    was deploying near the Jewish enclaves to prevent any
    attempt by militants to fire on settlers to show they were
    chasing them out.

    Many settlers stake a biblical claim to Gaza and the
    West Bank. The World Court describes Israeli settlements as
    illegal. Israel disputes this.

    Israel intends to leave the Gaza settlements and four
    isolated enclaves in the West Bank by September 4.


    gc/clv
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