Palestinian forces ready to handle Gaza pullout
Photo: Reuters
Abu Shbak says Palestinian police will ensure order is upheld
Photo: Nahum Barnea
Settlers' houses may be used for tourism after the pullout
Photo: Eyal Fischer
Palestinians train force to handle pullout
Special unit to ensure order during pullout; plans for settler homes after disengagement not yet finalized
Thousands of Palestinian security men have been trained for a special force to take over the settlements in the Gaza Strip after the planned pullout, a top Palestinian security official said Wednesday.
Palestinian Preventive Security chief in Gaza, Rashid Abu Shbak, told Reuters that men from several branches of the forces had been brought into the unit that was given special training focused on ensuring order.
"If settlements are kept intact, the Palestinian
Government Decision
By Attila Somfalvi
IDF troops will occupy evacuated settler homes following the Gaza pullout, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided Tuesday. The decision was reached following a warning issued by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz that evacuated settlers may attempt to return to their homes
The way in which the Palestinians assume control is seen as a test that could have bearing on any future peace negotiations with Israel for a state on land in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Concerns are rife on both sides that a plethora of security forces would fail to prevent scenes of chaos, allowing Islamic militants or other armed groups to emerge dominant.
Settler homes may be used for tourism
Security forces in Gaza have more than 30,000 members.
Abu Shbak said up to 20,000 men might eventually be involved in the takeover, assuming Prime Minister Ariel Sharon carries out his planned withdrawal from the 21 Gaza Strip settlements.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians have not yet finalized plans for what would happen to the land and any buildings that remain, he said.
"The fate of the settlements will be decided by a
national committee as part of a plan," Abu Shbak said. "There is no decision yet, but there are ideas under study."
He said these included using former settler homes to house Palestinians whose dwellings had been demolished by Israeli troops during the conflict. Otherwise they might become part of tourism or industrial projects.
