'Police will carry lip balm'

TEL AVIV - Police forces taking part in settlement evacuation would come equipped with lip balm and suntan lotion and would not be storming into settler homes, a senior police official says. "In every Gush Katif and northern Samaria community we'll know who lives in each house, how many children, the marital status," police Major General Bertie Ohayon said. "The police won't carry weapons, and officers will arrive at the homes with a hat, lip balm, suntan lotion, and a water bottle." However, the police are also preparing for the possibility of physical resistance to the upcoming evacuation. Officers are expected to use different equipment and ladders to climb roofs if necessary, Ohayon said. "The police are preparing to implement the government's decision," he said. "The first phase would be to enter communities through dialogue and we're preparing for any possible scenario." Elite counter-terror unit to take part in evacuation The police have already prepared a plan for handling settlers who barricade themselves in high locations and formulated principles for responding to extreme situations. Police forces also have aerial photographs of all communities slated for evacuation. Meanwhile, police officials estimate the most sensitive spots during the pullout would be synagogues, ritual baths, and bomb shelters. Ohayon noted that the police's special counter-terrorism unit, the YAMAM, would also have to be involved in the operation to thwart potential shooting attacks on officers or terror attacks against the settlers themselves. In addition, the police received two helicopters from the IDF to be used during the disengagement. Recently, the police also purchased special equipment including means to disperse protests, water hoses, thirteen horses, fences, and special uniforms. Worst-case scenarios Meanwhile, police officials are preparing for several potential worst-case scenarios. Among the options considered are numerous disturbances across the country, including in Jerusalem and particularly the Temple Mount. Other scenarios include threats on senior officials and government institutions. Some of the locations singled out by the police as potential troubles spots also include government buildingss and the prime minister's official resident in Jerusalem, the West Bank town of Hebron, IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, and Rabin Square, also in Tel Aviv. According to police estimates, the evacuation of Gush Katif would take three weeks, with another week needed to complete the northern West Bank withdrawal. The police have also prepared holding cells for 2,500 detainees. The plan also calls for the establishment of interrogation and court facilities near detention centers.

'Police will carry lip balm'

Senior officers present police preparations for upcoming Gaza Strip evacuation. Senior police official says officers would come equipped with "lip balm and suntan lotion" and refrain from storming into settler homes