Soldiers will prepare for the possibility of attacks during Gaza pullout (Archive Photo)
Photo: Yael Bar Hillel
Drill conducted for pullout "under fire"
Israeli police and soldiers conduct exercise simulating a Gaza pullout ahead of a withdrawal from the coastal territory this summer; Army fears attacks by terrorists and settlers
Soldiers and police officers conducted a simulation of a Gaza pullout on Sunday to prepare for scenarios that could occur during Israel’s planned evacuation of all 21 settlements from the territory this summer, such as shooting attacks by Palestinian terrorists and settlers.
Several military and police divisions and will participate in the drill, which is expected to last 10 hours, a senior military source told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
Israel’s main concern is that those participating in the evacuation of the 8,500 Gaza settlers will come under fire from Palestinian terrorists, he said. As a result, the army will set up a special force to combat the perpetrators.
The army also fears settlers may also resort to violence to try and thwart the withdrawal, although a Yedioth Ahronoth poll showed on Saturday that although most said they would resist being evacuated, few would do so by force.
Right-wingers and settlers claim the West Bank and Gaza, land Palestinians want for a state, as their biblical birthright. Some have staged protests against the
Should a settler open fire, a front division of soldiers would “neutralize” the person, the source said without elaborating on where they would shoot back. It is widely expected that forces taking part in the evacuation will not carry weapons.
The army will also discuss if to declare Gaza a closed military zone, given a recent threat of a mass locking of settlers to the coastal territory during the Passover holiday this week to build up forces ahead of the pullout, set to begin in July, the source said.
The withdrawal is expected to last four weeks and end before the Rosh Hashanna new year holiday in September, although the military source said it could last longer and require more reserve troops to be drafted.
Israel also plans to evacuate four of 120 enclaves in the West Bank this year while strengthening existing settlement blocs in the territory.
