NEWS: Leaving Gaza.

update:

Police just reached an agreement with barricaded Morag residents - most of them left the synagogue


(Morag Synagogue)


and boarded busses out of settlement , some Morag residents have been carried from synagogue to evacuating buses by Police.


Haaretz reports,

Neveh Dekalim residents say they will evacuate at 4 P.M.

All Bedolah residents except one woman voluntarily evacuate



[edit on 17-8-2005 by Riwka]

Lets keep the debate out of this thread, there are heaps of other threads on the topic to discuss / debate / vent over it.

Riwka has done a great job of bringing the situation to light and the thread doesn't deserve to lapse into half baked opinions.

Originally posted by eazy_mas
I think the should leave the whole land of palstine .

The IDF's operations chief is quoted to be said that Neveh Dekalim and the 8 other settlements where the security forces were operating Wednesday, would be empty of residents "by Shabbat." Ziv said, the pullout was going faster than expected.


STATUS ~ 4 p.m:

• Atzmona: Settlers agreed to leave voluntarily on Wed. afternoon.
  
  
• Bedolah: EVACUATED
  .
  
• Dugit: EVACUATED
  
  
• Elei Sinai
  Some 30 families remained. According to police sources, Elei Sinai will be evacuated Wednesday evening
  
  
• Ganei Tal: EVACUATED
  
  
  (A Border Policewoman weeping as she takes part in the evacuation of Ganei Tal)
  
  
• Gadid: 5 families remain.
  
  
• Kfar Darom:
  65 families and 2,000 protesters barricade themselves with barbed wire, but say they won't resist violently There is a possibility they will evacuate by Thursday.
  Residents sabotage IDF D-9 bulldozers, cutting cables, piercing tires, and putting sugar in gas tanks.
  
  
• Kfar Yam: 2 families remain.
  
  
• Kerem Atzmona: EVACUATED
  
  
• Neveh Dekalim
  Packing for evacuation begins at "Torah Haim" Yeshiva (religous school), which had been expected to be a stronghold of opposition. Rabbi Shmuel Tal, who heads the “Torah Haim” yeshiva in Neve Dekalim, has instructed his students Wednesday to leave the community voluntarily.
  The rabbi, who is in charge of a yeshiva considered to be Gush Katif’s ideological stronghold, told students “those who cannot leave should sit…and wait for soldiers to evacuate him, without any violent resistance.” (ynet)
  
  www.ynetnews.com...(1).jpg" target='_blank' class='tabOff'/>
  ( Collecting weapons at yeshiva)
  
  Twelve members of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hassidic movement are barricading themselves in a Neve Dekalim house and refuse to evacuate the area.
  
  On the whole, the evacuation was proceeding without drastic incidents, (some clashes continue in afternoon) and rabbis were helping persuade some residents to allow themselves to be evacuated, some settlers sid they will leave the settlement aound 4 p.m., when they conclude afternoon prayers.
  
  
• Morag: EVACUATED
  One female soldier stabbed by protesting infiltrator with infusion needle, is lightly injured.
  
  
• Netzarim
  Settlers announced that they will leave without struggle this coming Monday.
  
  
• Netzer Hazani:
  37 families remain. They came to an agreement with the army Wednesday that they would voluntarily leave the settlement on Thursday.
  
  
• Nissanit: EVACUATED
  
  
• Pe'at Sadeh: EVACUATED
  
  
• Rafiah Yam: EVACUATED
  
  
• Slav: 2 families remain.
  
  
• Tel Katifa: EVACUATED
  

One woman set herself ablaze Wednesday during an anti-pullout protest in Netivot /Negev Desert. She was seriously wounded, suffering from burns on 60 % of her body and taken to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva for treatment.



[edit on 17-8-2005 by Riwka]

All I can say is that whichever way they do it they better hurry their arse’s out of Gaza because my Tax $$$ is paying for their evictions. So either put my money to use or give it back.

Originally posted by Riwka

(A Border Policewoman weeping as she takes part in the evacuation of Ganei Tal)

The picture is very appropriate.It seems that a lot of the soldiers are having a hard time evicting their fellow Jews. One news report I heard this morning stated that in some areas the soldiers were just being told to guard against re-entry and that the police would be brought in since they were better trained to deal with highly emotional issues. Some of the soldiers and officers were breaking under the stress and could not continue to work at the time.

Excellent posts Riwka!! Keep it up.
I have heard from the people I know in Isreal that this is a very emotional time for everybody involved with these evictions. These sort of evictions bring back sad memories for a lot of people, memories of war, memories of hate and oppression.
I just hope this is done as fast as it can and hope as hell that the Palestinians understand how much Isrealis have sacrificed for Peace.
Let Peace have a chance!

Riwka,

Are there any rumors or reports of units heeding the cries to Not evict the settlers, or are they pretty much going about it as ordered?

Great job on the reports and updates BTW.

watch, soon after they leave a wave of suicide bomb attacks will happen.

Thank you

Originally posted by FredT

Are there any rumors ...

No - haven't heard anything.

[edit on 17-8-2005 by Riwka]

Police SWAT team units are en route to the Gaza Strip settlement of Kfar Darom to begin the process of removing anti-pullout infiltrators, it was announced on the public address loudspeakers Wednesday night.

The evacuation of Neveh Dekalim came to a temporary halt on Wednesday evening and will resume Thursday morning. About 60 families remained in the settlement, along with numerous infiltrators.

Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Municipality is preparing to absorb 1,000 people from Neveh Dekalim, 32 families from what was Gaza's biggest settlement have already arrived in the capital, and are temporarily staying at five Jerusalem hotels.

GOC Southern Command Harel said at the moment there is good coordination between Israel and the ~ 7,500 Palestinians deployed near Gaza settlements in a bid to stop attacks against Israelis by Palestinian gunmen.

After a 8 kg bomb belt hidden in a solar heater in the Muasi neighbourhood (Palestinian town, borders the Shirat Hayam settlement in Gush Katif) had been found, 4 Palestinian members of Islamic Jihad who were suspected of planning to carry out a suicide bombing while Israel evacuated settlers, could be arrested on Wednesday. The bomb belt was neutralized with a controlled explosion by army sapper.

Wednesday night, hundreds of Egyptian troops move into Sinai peninsula to be deployed along the Egyptian border with Gaza to maintain order after the Israeli pullout.

Riwka,

I have no other way to show my utmost appreciation at the awesome way you have brought to us coverage of this historical, hopeful, and tragic event that to just publically say it here. My heart breaks for those this has affected - both the uprooted families and the soldiers who must carry out their duties. I pray with all my heart and soul that this action will be met with the reciprocity it deserves.



[edit on 8-17-2005 by Valhall]

NEVE DEKALIM, Gaza Strip - Jewish settlers sobbed and screamed, some of them ripping their shirts in mourning, as Israeli troops dragged them from homes and synagogues Wednesday — the beginning of the end of Israel's 38-year occupation of the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, a settler killed four Palestinian laborers in a shooting rampage, which Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon denounced as a twisted act of "Jewish terror" designed to stop the historic pullout.

Pull Out

Lets hope cooler heads prevail on both sides. Hamas has already said they will not respond. lets hope they keep thier word on this. Despite this incident according to the reports there 600 settlers left as of yesterday. Kudos to the IDF for carrying out what has to be a most difficult task with professionaism and efficiency.

This really sums up this historical event and the emotions involved

In Neve Dekalim, a man stood before a line of soldiers and held up his daughter, about 10 years old. "Here. Take her. Expel her. Please take her, you are such a hero," he said, pouring scorn on the troops. The little girl, crying, looked up at the policeman and her father in sad confusion.

[edit on 8/18/05 by FredT]

A Jewish Settler Stole a Gun from a Policeman and shot and killed 4 Palestinians in Protests in Gaza Strip.

24ur.com

Toda Raba!- Thank you so much for applause - u2u's - and much more...




Israel has evacuated 12 settlements in Gaza and northern Samaria so far, 70% of Gaza settlers have left the Strip.

As of Wednesday night, no soldier or member of the police forces nobody had refused an order, nor did anyone lose his or her cool. They withstood unbearable psychological pressure, wiping away a more-than-occasional tear

Thursday morning, two Refuseniks reported at Kfar Darom Torah academy.


Kfar Darom had become swollen with illegal activists. According to the settlement's spokesman, Asher Mivtzari, at least 2,000 infiltrators were camped out in the settlement.

There were over 300 pullout foes barricading themselves at the Kfar Darom synagogue and had placed barbed wire at the scene, according to estimates by security officials. Some of them were inside the synagogue, others on the roof.



(On the roofs in Kfar Darom)

Security forces forcibly evacuated about 100 pullout opponents from a Torah study on Thursday, the protesters passively resisted evacuation. By mid-morning, Kfar Darom settlers left the synagogue, only infiltrators are inside.

Hundreds of others are in various public buildings, youths have barricaded themselves inside the kindergarten and a municipal building. 72 infiltrators were evacuated from the Alei Katif factory, which produces insect-free lettuce and other vegetables.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, a D-9 tractor had accidentally cut through the settlement's water main and the army deliveres water bottles to Kfar Darom homes and soldiers also trucked in barrels of water for the activists holed up in the synagogue.

As opposed to every other evacuation, police were in riot gear, some of them wearing helmets and holding shields and batons. There were about two full brigades operating in Kfar Darom amounting to around 5,000 soldiers and police.

The community’s public address system announced Thursday morning that large forces are entering the settlement and asked locals to remain calm. In recent meetings in Kfar Darom, residents agreed to refrain from using violence against police and soldiers, but are nonetheless determined to avoid leaving voluntarily.

Ophir Cohen, Kfar Darom's secretary, said there were no negotiations with the IDF going on Thursday morning. "There is no dialogue, the only thing we have to say is that we will not be expelled from our homes," (JPOST)

Army radio reportes, portable detention cells have been sent to Kfar Darom synagogue.



[edit on 18-8-2005 by Riwka]

It must be noted that while settlers are being evicted from Gaza, further construction is carrying on elsewhere -

Two thousand housing units will soon be demolished in the Gaza settlements, but in the West Bank, Mr Sharon's government is planning to build another 6,000 units, further cementing Israel's grip on the bit of the occupied territories that really matters.

In conjunction with Israel's "security barrier", which points to the eventual annexation of some 10% of the West Bank and threatens to cut off tens of thousands of Palestinian Jerusalemites from their own city, Mr Sharon's settlement policies suggest that he has already decided what Israel's future borders will be.

This triggers anxiety all round.

Source

STATUS - Thursday 7:45 p.m. (EST +7)

GAZA STRIP SETTLEMENTS


• Atzmona
  residents now agree agree to evacuate by Sunday.
  
  
• Bedolah -EVACUATED
  
  
• Dugit - EVACUATED
  
  
• Elei Sinai
  -- Some 30 families bolstered by dozens of recently arrived protesters, many of them from the Golan Heights.
  
  
• Gadid
  -- 10:30 a.m: Evacuation begins.
  
  
• Gan Or - EVACUATED
  
  
• Ganei Tal - EVACUATED
  
  
• Katif: Awaiting evacuation
  
  
• Kerem Atzmona - EVACUATED.
  
  
• Kfar Darom:
  
  2 p.m. : Troops evacuated 80 % of Kfar Darom houses
  
  
  (Morning prayers in front of the synagogue at Kfar Darom; sign reads: "Kfar Darom will not fall again")
  
  7 p.m.: Some 10 soldiers who had climbed onto the roof of the synagogue at Kfar Darom to evacuate people barricaded there said an unidentified burning substance was thrown at them. Their fellow soldiers washed them down.
  
  7:45 p.m.: Forces begin clear rooftop, lowering protesters in cages
  
  
  (A crane raising a cage carrying security officers to the Kfar Darom synagogue roof)
  
  
  (Protesters throwing paint at police as they storm the roof of Kfar Darom synagogue)
  
  
  
• Kfar Yam: - Evacuation set to begin early afternoon.
  
  The Navy stationed patrol boats 150 meters away from the coast of Kfar Yam, intended to prevent settler youths from running into the sea
  
  Standing on his balcony and holding an M-16, one settler warns he`ll shoot approaching troops. 40 other people (including Women in Green founder Nadia Matar and her children) were holed up in the house. The settler said booby traps surround the building. IDF snipers have taken up positions around the house.
  
  6:30 pm: Security forces are storming the home of anti-pullout leader Arieh Itzhaky in Kfar Yam and have begun evacuating the locals. IItzhaky handed IDF officers a bag with weapons and ammunition belonging to barricaded settlers. (army radio)
  
  
• Morag - EVACUATED
  
  
• Netzarim: Settlers announce they will leave without struggle this Monday.
  
  
• Netzer Hazani - EVACUATED
  
  
• Neveh Dekalim:
  Last remaining families being evacuated.
  
  4:30 p.m.: Troops prepare to storm Ashkenazic synagogue, continue evacuation of Sephardic synagogue.
  
  
• Nissanit - EVACUATED
  
  
• Pe'at Sadeh - EVACUATED
  
  
• Rafiah Yam - EVACUATED
  
  
• Shirat Hayam
  
  5:00 p.m: 4 busses of evacuees left the settlement
  
  
  (Prayers at Shirat Hayam)
  
  
• Slav - EVACUATED
  
  
• Tel Katifa - EVACUATED
  
  WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS
  
  
• Ganim - EVACUATED
  
  
• Kadim – EVACUATED
  
  
• Sa-Nur: Awaiting evacuation
  
  
• Homesh: Awaiting evacuation
  
  
  
  [edit on 18-8-2005 by Riwka]
  
  [edit on 18-8-2005 by Riwka]

Live on CNN (tv)

The Police are coming out one by one from the synagogue...
...in their underwear!!

16 out of 21 Gaza settlements have been evacuated

Atzmona, Gadid, Katif evacuations will resume Friday, last until Sabbath

Kfar Darom

Israeli security forces seized control of the roof of Kfar Darom's synagogue,
Activists rained down burning chemical substances on soldiers, who began to scream and remove uniforms


(Israeli officers helped by soldiers to leave the synagogue, after acid was thrown at them by protestors)

Major General Dan Harel said several troops were wounded by acid and were sent to hospital. "What we saw here crossed all boundaries," he said. "Everybody who was now on the roof will be arrested and put in prison.

(haaretz)

Police said about 225 people were arrested in Kfar Darom.

Also, Security forces have completed the evacuation of Shirat Hayam, Kfar Yam and
Neve Dekalim in the southern Gaza Strip. Forces evacuated the last civilians held up in the synagogues, as well as the neighboring families.




[edit on 18-8-2005 by Riwka]

The evacuation of the Gaza Strip settlements is expected to be completed by Monday or Tuesday

GAZA STRIP SETTLEMENTS


• Atzmona residents now agree agree to evacuate by Sunday.
  
• Bedolah -EVACUATED
  
• Dugit - EVACUATED
  
• Elei Sinai Some 30 families bolstered by dozens of recently arrived protesters, many of them from the Golan Heights.
  
• Gadid - EVACUATED
  
• Gan Or - EVACUATED
  
• Ganei Tal - EVACUATED
  
• Katif: Awaiting evacuation
  
• Kerem Atzmona - EVACUATED.
  
• Kfar Darom: - EVACUATED
  
• Kfar Yam: - EVACUATED
  
• Morag - EVACUATED
  
• Netzarim: Settlers announce they will leave without struggle this Monday.
  
• Netzer Hazani - EVACUATED
  
• Neveh Dekalim - EVACUATED
  
• Nissanit - EVACUATED
  
• Pe'at Sadeh - EVACUATED
  
• Rafiah Yam - EVACUATED
  
• Shirat Hayam - EVACUATED
  
• Slav - EVACUATED
  
• Tel Katifa - EVACUATED
  
  WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS
  
  
• Ganim - EVACUATED
  
• Kadim – EVACUATED
  
• Sa-Nur: Awaiting evacuation
  
• Homesh: Awaiting evacuation
  

The chemicals that were spilled on soldiers and police officers in Kfar Darom were primarily paint and paint thinner, no acid. All but eight of the wounded were released.

The IDF has started the demolition of Gaza Strip settlement houses in Kerem Atzmona today.

According to an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority house demolition of Gaza settlements will be overseen by a third party, probably the World Bank.

Defense Ministry bulldozers will knock down the house walls, and demolition will be completed by Palestinian and Egyptian construction companies contracted by the World Bank after Israel completes its withdrawal from the Strip. Settlement demolition is expected to be completed within two months.


I will always remember the heavens and this beautiful land.

Once again I would like to voice my appreciation of your continuing coverage of this historic and emotional event. This is one of the best ungoing coverage threads that has ever been placed on ATSNN.

My only regret is that I have but one WATS vote to give...I'd give all three if I could.