Removal of Gaza graves to begin Sunday

The government plans to begin removing a Jewish cemetery from Neve Dekalim settlement next week due to the unexpected fast pace of the withdrawal from Gaza
By Tal Rosner

Israel will begin removing graves from the Neve Dekalim cemetery starting next week as a result of the quick pace of the pullout, according to a government statement.

The state has informed the High Court of the intention in the framework of a petition on the matter filed by families of people buried in Neve Dekalim.

The fast pace of the withdrawal from Gaza has created a “vital and operational need” to evacuate the cemetery, said the statement.

Recently IDF representatives contacted Mordechai Mintzer, attorney for the former Neve Dekalim families, in a bid to reach an agreement that would permit the withdrawal of the petition.

The state said that if the sides would not reach an agreement on the transfer of the graves, it will call for a court hearing on the matter as early as next Monday, due to the “urgent security need” for the cemetery’s removal.

Recently a Disengagement Authority official said rabbis have agreed to have the graves removed without the families’ consent if there is a chance the graves would be desecrated following the pullout.