IDF issues north Samaria relocation ban

TEL AVIV - IDF Central Command Chief Yair Naveh signed a decree Sunday banning Israelis from moving to northern West Bank settlements slated for evacuation.

The decision to use the ban follows a similar IDF order barring Israelis from relocating to Gaza. The four northern Samaria communities slated for evacuation are Ganim, Kadim, Homesh, and Sa-Nur.

The largest of the four, Homesh, is currently home to about 70 families, while Ganim and Kadim are populated by about 40 families. Sa-Nur, the smallest of the four settlements, is home to only 20 families.

Officials charged with implementing the pullout say the number of residents at the four settlements has increased recently. In Sa-Nur, the officials say, there has been a 100 percent population increasing since the disengagement plan was declared.

On Friday, IDF Southern Command Chief Dan Harel signed an order banning Israelis from moving to Gaza Strip settlements slated for evacuation.

The decree came in the framework of steps that are meant to facilitate the government’s pullout decision.

According to the order, effective immediately, Israelis can no longer make Gaza Strip their home.

Accordingly, Israelis who attempt to change their residential address at the Interior Ministry would not be permitted to do so, while the police prepare to block any attempts to move to the Gush Katif settlement bloc.

Knesset Member Eitam plans to move to Gaza

Notably, the Gush Katif population increased by about 10 percent since the disengagement plan was declared, with most new arrivals moving there in recent months. About 100 families reportedly settled in several Gaza Strip communities in an effort to thwart the planned pullout.

Religious Zionism party chairman Effie Eitam, however, announced Saturday his intention to move to Gush Katif with his family.

"In light of restrictions on the movement of new residents to Gush Katif, lovers and supporters of the settlement enterprise must move there now," he said.