Gaza homes - Will they be razed?
Photo: AP
'Gaza homes to stay intact'
Deputy Prime Minister Peres tells Ynet about efforts to prevent razing of evacuated houses. Defense Ministry officials back the call, say pictures of demolished homes would not be well received internationally
TEL AVIV - Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres told Ynet Tuesday he estimates Israel would leave the homes of Gaza residents slated for evacuation intact, despite earlier pledges to raze the houses.
Peres said he is acting in various forums in a bid to change the government decision to demolish the evacuated homes.
"I won't bring the issue before the government, but I'm active on other fronts," he said.
Notably, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon recently said in various forums that Israel intends to go ahead with the decision to raze the houses of Gaza evacuees.
Meanwhile, Peres is expected to a convene a meeting Wednesday with the team tasked with handling the economic and civilian aspects of the disengagement plan. The question of demolishing evacuated homes is expected to be raised in the meeting, senior officials said.
Security officials want homes left untouched
Defense Ministry officials recently expressed, in closed-door sessions, their objection to razing the homes. However, the official ministry position is that the question is still being examined.
Security officials tasked with formulating a recommendation on the matter told Ynet the question is complex and presents many variable that must be considered.
"The changes taking place vis-à-vis the Palestinian Authority in recent weeks support the tendency to avoid demolishing the houses," one official said.
Tough Questions
By Diana Bahur-Nir
The houses of Gaza Strip residents slated for evacuation should not be razed, government experts recommend
Settlers girding up for battle
Meanwhile, The Yesha Council has announced it is taking the struggle against the disengagement plan up a notch, and directing its resources to resistance efforts in the evacuation day itself.
Settler leaders convened in Jerusalem Monday in order to decide on a plan of action. Participants in the session decided to block roads as part of their battle, and agreed to find alternate solutions in the event evacuated areas are disconnected from water and electricity.
Yesha Council leaders also decided to bring large numbers of settlers to Gush Katif to celebrate the upcoming Independence Day, and leave them there until the pullout date.
"We are examining now whether to only struggle in Gush Katif and northern Samaria, or across the entire country," one Council member said.
