Will evacuation lead to violence?
Photo: AP
Violence feared in Samaria
Most violent, radical anti-pullout battle expected in northern West Bank, senior military official says. "We have no information about intention to target Arabs, but we must take it into account," he says
TEL AVIV - The anti-pullout battle in the northern West Bank is expected to be more violent and extreme than resistance to the Gaza withdrawal, a senior IDF official said in a briefing to reporters Sunday.
"I predict the main battle will take place in Gush Katif, but the extreme battle will take place in northern Samaria, because the possibility of getting violent there is higher," he said.
Israel should raze evacuated northern West Bank homes if there is no one on the Palestinian side that can assume responsibility over them, the official said. However, a final decision on the matter has not yet been taken.
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The northern West Bank, however, will remain under Israeli control even after the pullout.
The IDF will continue to operate in northern Samaria, but is expected to minimize its activity in the areas to be evacuated, the official said.
Official concerned about day after pullout
Regarding the possibility of using administrative detention to curb the activity of radical Jews, the official said he favors detention or restraining orders "against a group of people that can lead to radicalization."
The group in question is comprised of several dozen far right Jews, he said.
"We need to take into account (the possibility that) radical elements would attempt to disrupt the peace, including at Palestinian villages," the official said. "We have no information on intentions to carry out attacks on Arabs, but we should take (the possibility) into account."
Weapons should be taken away from would-be West Bank evacuees about a week or two before the pullout, but the IDF should boost security around the four communities slated for evacuation, he said.
Extremists may get to a point where they are ready to harm others during the pullout, he said, but predicted that only several dozen soldiers would refuse to carry out evacuation orders.
"Everything depends on the rabbis," he said.
However, the official said he is particularly concerned about the day after disengagement.
"We'll have to live here together," he said. "The reality faced by the IDF is becoming increasingly difficult."
