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Peace Process

'Disengagement' by no means a fait accompli


By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
June 03, 2005

Senior military sources this week said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's ?disengagement? plan was by no means a done deal, and warned the security forces were seriously underestimating the level of resistance the settlers and their allies would offer.

The vast majority of Jews scheduled to be uprooted have vowed to fight for their homes, but to under no circumstances resort to physical violence against the IDF soldiers and police officers sent to evacuate them.

But one senior army officer warned that even if the settlers didn't turn on their fellow Jews, the government had a seriously misconceived notion of their ability to disrupt implementation of Sharon's policies.

?Those guys aren't suckers. There are many among them who are veterans of the most elite army units and know exactly what they're getting into,? the officer was quoted as saying by Israel's Yediot Ahronot daily.

He said that during the evacuation, settlers and their allies would ?shut down the country? by blocking major highways and possibly instigating clashes with hostile Israeli Arab elements.

?The settlers' resistance will surprise the IDF.?

Even former-IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon admits the security forces may be overwhelmed and unable to complete the evacuation.

?If and when we complete the move, we will talk about a fait accompli,? Ya'alon said this week in an interview with Ha'aretz.

?The question is whether we [have to] evacuate 8,000 residents or 20,000 Israeli citizens or maybe 50,000,? he said.

Settler leaders have vowed to bring as many as 100,000 Israeli Jews to Gaza prior to the expulsion.

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