Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave orders to close the Gaza Strip to non-resident Israelis in bid to thwart anti-disengagement plans by the right-wing organizations, to flood the strip with settlers to obstruct the pullout.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave orders to close the Gaza Strip to non-resident Israelis in bid to thwart anti-disengagement plans by the right-wing organizations, to flood the strip with settlers to obstruct the pullout.
Israeli sources reported on Wednesday that police started barring Israelis who are not residents of the Gaza Strip settlements from entering the strip.
Police turned away non-resident cars from Kisufim Junction, the main entry point for the Gush Katif settlements.
In reaction to this move, Kfar Darom settlers prevented Defense Ministry Director General Amos Yaron, who was visiting the settlement, from leaving.
‘We have been blockaded, so there is no reason why the government should not also be in the same situation,’ one of the settlers told Israel Radio.
Right-wing group Habait Haleumi, (the National Home) declared its intention to impose road blockages twice a week in many main highways in Israel on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Gush Katif closure to Israelis is considered
In a step that might thwart right-wing activists’ plan to obstruct the disengagement, Israeli military officials will soon decide when to close the Gaza Strip to Israeli civilians, Israeli sources said on Wednesday.
Plans by the settlers Yesha Council to have masses of people march to Gush Katif next Monday could speed up the declaration of the settlement bloc a closed military zone.
Senior military officials debated the issue on Tuesday. Some of them believe the strip should be closed right away, in view of the planned march and the continuous arrival of right-wing activists to the Gaza Strip.
A limited closure is among the options considered. This would be similar to the closure imposed for 24 hours two weeks ago to enable the army to take over the (Moaz Yam) Palm Beach hotel, which settlers turned into an anti-disengagement stronghold.
However, the army tends to support another option, a prolonged closure. A prolonged closure would require an order from the Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Yet, some military source said, that Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz is opposed to a prolonged closure since it would disrupt the settlers daily life, and could be seen by right-wing organizations as a declaration of war and would cause the settlers to escalate the battle against the disengagement.
