Monday, August 22 2005 15:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Netzarim (Gaza Strip): Busloads of evacuation troops arrived at the gates of Netzarim today (Aug 22, 2005) for the historic emptying of the last remaining Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, even as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke of expanding existing settlements in the West Bank.

Security forces, meanwhile, braced for possible violence in militant West Bank settlements as more than 5,000 troops who had been deployed in Gaza packed up to head north to evacuate four small Jewish communities there.

Forces began evacuating the 21 Gaza settlements on Wednesday (Aug 17, 2005), more than a year after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon concluded Israel could no longer defend its 38-year-old occupation of the coastal strip.

Gaza pullout and 4 small West Bank settlements could reshape peace effort

The pullout from Gaza and four small West Bank settlements could reshape Mid-east peace efforts. After the settlements are completely evacuated and knocked down, Israel is to turn Gaza over to Palestinian control for the first time.

But while Palestinians and international elements are pushing for a quick renewal of talks, Sharon conditioned progress on a halt to Palestinian violence, and said Israel would continue building in the West Bank, where most of its more than 2,40,000 settlers live.

Speaking to evacuating troops yesterday, Sharon said there would be no further unilateral withdrawals. The next step would be a return to the stalled, internationally backed 'road map' peace plan, he said if his conditions were fulfilled.

"In order to move to the road map, terrorism must stop terrorism, violence, incitement terror organisations must be dismantled, their weapons confiscated, serious reforms carried out," Sharon said.

The Jerusalem Post newspaper today quoted Sharon as saying that Israel would continue to build in the West Bank reiterating a policy that has put him into conflict with the US.

'There will be building in the settlement blocs,' The Jerusalem Post quoted Sharon as saying, referring to large settlements in the West Bank such as Maaleh Adumim, outside Jerusalem, and Ariel, not far from Tel Aviv.

The forcible evacuations in Gaza proceeded quickly

The forcible evacuations in Gaza have proceeded far more quickly than expected, and with relatively little violence.

That could change, as the evacuation operation turns northward to the West Bank. Residents have already pulled out of two of the four settlements to be emptied, but as many as 2,000 settler extremists most non-residents have holed up in the two others, Sanur and Homesh.

Some 5,500 forces were to be deployed to those settlements to carry out the evacuations, police spokesman Avi Zelba said.

Security officials said those settlements were likely to be evacuated on Tuesday (Aug 23, 2005).

Military Chief Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz , the Army Chief, said settlers in the extremist West Bank strongholds were stockpiling weapons. Violence between Jewish settlers and soldiers erupted in the area yesterday (Aug 21, 2005).