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Photo: Reuters
Why are we there? IDF clash with Palestinain teens, Tuesday
Photo: Reuters

Leave Gaza now

Can someone please explain what the IDF is still doing in Gaza?

Senior military officials have recommended cutting down the IDF’s presence in Gaza, perhaps even completing the last phase of the pullout before the target date of September 15.

 

There is no operational reason to stay there. The IDF and Defense Ministry can, at any given time, dismantle whatever is left and get out in less than 24 hours from the moment of receiving the order.

 

Every passing day increases the likelihood of friction with the Palestinians, increases the likelihood of a flare-up, and of soldiers being hurt.

 

And for what? What exactly are those eight IDF battalions deployed around evacuated communities and the roads leading to them doing? Protecting ruins?

 

Settlers gone, soldiers remain

 

For some weeks now soldiers have been on what is called a "combat footing", living in armored personnel carriers and tanks.

 

More than two weeks ago, residents were cleared from the area; last week they finished packing up and destroying the houses. But the soldiers are still there, guarding several dozen settlers who come everyday to take apart this or another hothouse as if they just "forgot" something.

 

The folks who did everything they could to scuttle the withdrawal, who intentionally left their things behind, who all-of-a-sudden "need" the stuff. They dragged their feet before the pullout and they continue to drag them now.

 

Warning sign

 

Must we really endanger security forces for these people to "gather," as they call it, their things?

 

Yesterday in Neve Dekalim we got an example of what could happen should things get bad in Gaza. Rioters from the refugee camp in Khan Youin tried to infiltrate the settlement. Palestinian police have managed to prevent similar attempts in recent weeks, but yesterday they barely even tried, perhaps in order to get Israel to hurry up and get our "stuff" out of there.

 

The rioters did not rest having cut through the fence, but rather they climbed on a tank. IDF snipers on site were instructed to fire at the instigators legs in order to prevent a mass Palestinian advance on the Israeli positions – and the soldiers guarding them – who are still walking around the settlements.

 

Yesterday, this ended with one Palestinian death and several injuries.

 

The militant organizations – Hamas and Islamic Jihad – are inciting their followers to try to infiltrate the settlements. They want to challenge the PA and to show that they will be the ones to claim the liberated lands.

 

Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that riots like yesterdays will repeat themselves. And if there are more fatalities, Hamas will exploit the situation to create fire, thus creating a real illusion that the IDF is withdrawing under fire, with its tail between its legs.

 

Whose national interest would that serve?

 

Disengagement not quite over

 

Maybe the same anti-disengagement folks, who still believe that if we get stuck, then perhaps we'll stay there.

 

The political establishment instructed the army to prepare to stay in Gaza as long as no solution has been found for the synagogues.

 

The basic premise was that the issue of synagogues would be resolved in a few days.

 

But the Supreme Court screwed it all up and put the army in a very bad position. If the IDF really must stay in Gaza until an international force can be found to take responsibility for the synagogues.

 

And perhaps parents may also have to ask the court for help. Is there any justification for endangering our children guarding abandoned synagogues?

 

And we thought we were past the craziness surrounding disengagement.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.07.05, 23:20
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