"Israel must take further steps"
Posted on 09/11/2005 8:33:07 PM PDT by Alouette
MORAG, Gaza Strip - Triumphant Palestinians poured into abandoned Jewish settlements Monday, setting empty synagogues on fire and shooting in the air, while Israeli troops left in convoys in the final phase of Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip after 38 years of occupation.
Palestinian police stood by helplessly as gunmen raised flags of militant groups in the settlements and crowds smashed what was left in the ruins or walked off with doors, window frames, toilets and scrap metal.
Initial plans by Palestinian police to bar the crowds from the settlements for the first few hours quickly collapsed, illustrating the weakness of the Palestinian security forces and concerns about growing chaos after Israel's departure.
Women ululated, teens set off fireworks and crowds chanted "God is great."
"Today is a day of joy and happiness that our people were deprived of in the past century," said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, adding that the Palestinians still have a long path toward statehood. He denounced Israeli rule in Gaza as "aggression, injustice, humiliation, killing and settlement activity."
Just before daybreak, Abbas was heading to what was once the largest Jewish settlement, Neve Dekalim, his aides said.
Israel had demolished nearly all buildings in its 21 Gaza settlements, but decided at the last minute to leave 19 synagogue buildings intact, a decision criticized by the Palestinians and the United States.
Palestinians carried off what was left in the debris of the settlements, including chairs, tables and shopping carts. Young men tore down electricity poles, grabbing the wires. In the Netzarim settlement, a group of men took turns hitting a column in a building with a hammer. Two empty synagogues and a Jewish seminary were set on fire.
Palestinian police appeared overwhelmed, watching the destruction from the sidelines. Police Col. Abdel Khader Abu Tayr said police didn't have enough time to deploy because Israeli troops left without sufficient warning. "Now we are expending every effort to kick the people out and protect the buildings," Abu Tayr said.
In Neve Dekalim, 22-year-old Abdel Rahman Barakat rode his bicycle through the streets, amazed at the space the settlers had enjoyed. "Oh my God, I feel so comfortable here," he said. "It (the settlement) is very wide, it's very big."
In northern Gaza, Palestinian university student Rami Rayan walked toward the abandoned settlement of Elei Sinai, where he said a cousin carried out a suicide bombing five years ago. "I want to feel that his blood wasn't spilled in vain," Rayan said, as he picked up bullet casings as souvenirs. "They (the Israelis) left because of resistance."
The 5,000 Israeli troops who had been left in Gaza began driving toward Israel before dawn Monday. Dozens of soldiers waited on the Israeli side of the crossing as the first convoy of armored vehicles passed through the Kissufim crossing. Gaza commander Brig. Gen. Aviv Kochavi was expected to be the last Israeli soldier to leave.
Two tanks broke down because of mechanical problems, and troops waited for huge tow trucks to arrive. Soldiers fired in the air to deter Palestinians from approaching.
Late Sunday, Israeli troops lowered their national banner in Neve Dekalim, snapped farewell pictures and closed army headquarters, which were left intact for use by the Palestinians.
In a somber farewell ceremony, the Israeli commander in Gaza, Kochavi expressed hope the pullout would be a step toward peace.
"The gate that will close behind us is also the gate that will open," he said. "We hope it will be a gate of peace and quiet, a gate of hope and goodwill, a gate of neighborliness."
But he added a threat: "If a bad wind breaks through, then we will greet it with a force of troops ready and waiting."
A field commander, Lt. Col. Tzvika Tzoran, sat on the turret of a tank on an isolated sand dune in his final moments in Gaza, bidding farewell to the Mediterranean coastline he had come to love during his one-year stint. Other soldiers took pride in the orderly withdrawal, in contrast to a hasty retreat from southern Lebanon five years ago.
But the withdrawal, code-named "Last Watch," was overshadowed by Israeli-Palestinian disputes, including over border arrangements and Israel's last-minute decision not to demolish Gaza synagogues. The army was forced to cancel a formal handover ceremony that had been set for Sunday after angry Palestinians said they wouldn't show up.
The withdrawal marks the first time the Palestinians will have control over a defined territory. They hope to build their state in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem — areas that Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War. Gaza is seen as a testing ground for Palestinian aspirations of statehood, but many Palestinians fear that after the Gaza pullout, Israel will not hand over additional territory.
The Palestinians say the occupation is not really ending, noting that Israel will continue to control Gaza's airspace, territorial waters and border passages. "Despite Israeli claims to the contrary, the Gaza Strip will remain occupied Palestinian territory under international law," said Palestinian Cabinet minister Mohammed Dahlan.
The final phase of the pull began Sunday with twin decisions in the Israeli Cabinet — to end military rule in Gaza and not to raze 19 synagogues in former Jewish settlements there.
The vote on the military rule was largely symbolic. Israel already had removed all of its 8,500 settlers from Gaza, leaving only soldiers there.
The last-minute decision to leave the synagogue buildings intact, a reversal of position, angered the Palestinians who said they would now be forced to demolish the buildings. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the Israeli Cabinet decision "puts the Palestinian Authority into a situation where it may be criticized for whatever it does."
When settlers left Gaza, they took with them the sacred Torah scrolls and the other holy items from the synagogues.
The Palestinians want full control over the Gaza-Egypt border after Israel's withdrawal, saying free movement of people and goods is essential for rebuilding Gaza's shattered economy. Israel wants to retain some control, at least temporarily, fearing that militants will smuggle weapons into Gaza.
Israel last week unilaterally closed the Rafah border crossing, the main gateway for Gaza's 1.3 million Palestinians, to the outside world.
Last week, Israel agreed in principle that foreign observers could eventually replace Israeli inspectors at Rafah. However, Israel said it could be months before the border reopens and a final deal would depend on Palestinian willingness to crack down on militant groups.
In the meantime, it plans to reroute border traffic through alternate Israeli-controlled crossings and turn over security control of the border to Egyptian forces, 750 of whom deployed at the border over the weekend.
(photos) They remain locked into the dark ages of madness & evil.
The time for repenting is almost up...
Can we say that in a family forum???
IN ISLAM--->>>> NO SIN, NO responsiblty, NO Law, No PITY, NO Mercy, NO Love, NO goodness, NO rightousness, NOthing HOLY
NO Pali language, NO pali dishes, NO Pali dances, NO Pali history, NO Pali culture, NO Pali music, NO Pali infrastructure, NO Pali Art, NO Pali Archetecture, NO Pali Currency, NO Pali WARS, for sure- NO Pali VICTORYS.. and last NO PALI..stein..WHY?..why indeed
It must have value, so let's take it and figure out what it's for later.
Relax. It's not dirty.
Like the word "mastication".
"Israel must take further steps"
Palestinian police stood by helplessly as gunmen raised flags of militant groups in the settlements and crowds smashed what was left in the ruins or walked off with doors, window frames, toilets and scrap metal.
Late Sunday, Israeli troops lowered their national banner in Neve Dekalim, snapped farewell pictures and closed army headquarters, which were left intact for use by the Palestinians.
Hmmmm.... So, pali militant groups, i.e. TERRORISTS have flags... So do countries... But Israelis have a national banner.
Anyone else find this interesting?
Mark
This statement is proof that the pali's and democrats think just alike.
Exactly! Is there any possibility that these buildings could actually be used for something? Of course, if the palis used them as mosques, there would be some criticism... Well, let's be honest, nearly none, but still, someone might mention it. But could they be used as community centers? Or shops? Or schools? Sure! Can you imagine the international public relations coup if they were to take a former synagogue and repoen it as a school dedicated to "peace between the arabs and the Jews?"
But then again, "the arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." They live for destruction.
Mark
We already have such a substance! It's the "secret ingredient" in Churches Chicken! Sorry, I couldn't resist that, but Churches Chicken (which I happen to love) was the target of an urban legend alledging that Churches was putting something in their chicken that would make black men sterile. Of course, this was put forward by the same people who alledged that Snapple was supporting the KKK (from the circled 'K', meaning "Kosher," on the labels) and supporting slavery (from the picture of a slave ship on the labels - It was actually the famous litho of the "Boston Tea Party," since Snapple was an iced tea company at the time).
Mark
..........................................
No unfair criticism of the palestinians please, it's not their fault, Israel made them do it.
I'm so touched.
My, My.....It appears the Palestinians share a lot in common with the "disadvantaged poor" in New Orleans....
Perhaps that explains the existence and rapid growth of Islam within American prisons among black criminals.
How much longer must we pretend the obvious links and hatred don't exist....
Semper Fi
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.