Police: 8,000 volunteer for pullout
Human resource chief says force has had 8,000 requests from civilians to assist in evacuating settlements during Gaza pullout
TEL AVIV - Police are taking "Neighborhood Watch" to a whole new level with regard to Israel's planned pullout from Gaza this summer.
Police Chief of Human Resources Gabi Gal said on Wednesday that some 8,000 civilians have asked to assist police with Israel's plan to evacuate all 21 settlements in Gaza and four of 120 in the West Bank. The withdrawal is set to start in August.
Gal said that 383 people have been added to routine police duty rosters and an additional 230 to border police combat forces. An additional 170 soldiers will be called up on July 1, while the police is prepared for an immediate call up of an additional 100 officers.
He also said the police is aware settlers could try to sign up for police work in order to scuttle the withdrawal, but said the force has not come across this phenomenon, and that incoming officers are required to undergo meticulous background checks before being accepted into the force.
Settlers and rightists oppose the pullout plan, claiming the West Bank and Gaza Strip as their biblical birthright. Palestinians want the areas to be part of a future state.
Training begun
The IDF and the police have already begun training for the withdrawal, although only police officers have been assigned to evacuate the settlers from their homes.
The forces have warned of impending attacks by Palestinian terrorists. Army Chief Dan Halutz said on Tuesday that Israel would deal with terrorists and that the withdrawal would therefore not be carried out under fire.
Israel also expected resistance from settlers and has said some may try to use violence.
"Even though we are preparing, I hope and believe we won't be tested," Gal said. "We don't let our officers be exposed to physical assaults. We won't put them in danger."
