The Whole World is Watching
The international press covered the evacuation from every
possible angle, devoting several minutes of air time to
reports at least. About 900 official press representatives
were around for the first day on Monday. Others are covering
the events from communities in the area, but there do not
seem to be the 2-3,000 members of the press that were
expected. Sharon was showered with one compliment after
another for his resolve in executing the Disengagement
despite the internal disputes and difficulties in Eretz
Yisroel. Numerous television and radio stations around the
world dispatched news teams to Gush Katif and they plan to
continue the massive coverage during the coming days as the
actual eviction is carried out. Clashes between the IDF and
the settlers will provide the media big gains and many
pictures.
No more Yesha
The eviction from Gaza is bringing about changes in familiar
terms. All official state documents since the Six-Day War
describe the Disputed Territories as Yesha, an acronym for
Yehuda, Shomron and Azza (Gaza). Similarly the main settlers'
organization was known as the Yesha Council. Now "Yesha" will
be shortened to "Yesh," an appellation already appearing on
official Finance Ministry documents discussing funding for
Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.
Flight Cancellation
The Yesha Council demonstration outside the Prime Minister's
Office in Jerusalem ended on Monday hours before the ending
time the organizers committed to in the police permit. The
demonstration was scheduled to last throughout and after the
Cabinet meeting, but only a few hundred activists came to
participate. The police were not taking any chances.
Concerned that the demonstrators would prevent ministers from
arriving at the meeting they planned to have them flown in by
helicopter to the landing pad atop the Knesset. This
precaution proved unnecessary and the ministers missed out on
a flight over the Jerusalem skies.
Torn Order
As part of the Yad Achim Operation, security forces arrived
in Eli Sinai and issued the eviction order to Arik Harpaz,
who is mourning the loss of his daughter Hy"d. Harpaz
said that when the soldiers came to his home he locked the
door and met them outside. I tore up the order in their faces
and said, "You're not my army any more." I shouted and walked
away. I didn't wait to hear what they had to say. I told them
to leave."
The Olive Tree
The IDF explained they had come to help residents pack and
move. As they visited the homes they received an unusual
request in Dugit, where the majority of residents left
willingly. Officers went from house to house, handing out
evacuation orders. One resident asked for assistance
transporting a small olive tree growing in his garden. "I'm
not leaving here without this tree," he told the soldiers,
who began to help him on the spot. Other residents asked the
soldiers to help them uproot palm trees and load them onto
the trucks.
Blessings from Beirut
The first to congratulate the Palestinians as the evacuation
drew near was Hizbullah General Secretary Hassan Nassralah.
In a speech in Beirut he congratulated the Palestinians for
their "victory in the [Gaza] Strip," saying it was "only a
beginning and not an end." Nassralah added that this victory,
like the victory in Lebanon, demonstrates the efficacy of
resistance and the importance of weaponry. Nassralah's
message had its effect and the Palestinians continued to
celebrate in a militant manner expected to gain momentum as
they draw closer to the evacuated communities.
Gaza Celebrates
The celebrating in Gaza has already begun and the Palestinian
media began all-day coverage of the beginning of the
Disengagement. Cameras were positioned in areas overlooking
Jewish communities, particularly in Northern Gaza, and
Palestinian analysts did not conceal their delight. Some
tried to moderate the celebrations, saying Israel had never
been very fond of Gaza, but nobody wanted to hear this
version.
Shameful Looting
Adding to the evacuees' difficulties were a few instances of
looting by IDF soldiers. Two soldiers from the Givati Brigade
were caught trying to steal items left in homes in outlying
communities. When residents returned home to clear their
remaining possessions they were met with the disturbing sight
of Israeli soldiers carting off their property. The IDF
announced that it considers this a serious incident and
military police will open an investigation.
Secret Plan
Although the IDF expects the evacuation to take place without
extraordinary resistance, thousands of die-hard supporters
who filtered into Gush Katif in recent weeks have different
ideas in mind. According to a press leak they are planning "a
moving battle against the soldiers and the police, without
beating, kicking or biting." If Shirat Yam falls these young
resistors plan to burst through the police ring on their way
to Neve Dekalim.
Who's in Charge?
The hottest dispute is not between the IDF and the settlers,
but between the Hamas and Fatah. Both organizations are
fighting with flags (and rifles) to determine who is in
charge of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The Hamas says
their terrorism alone brought about the victory and the
retreat while Fatah boasts it deserves the credit. Both sides
emphasize that Gaza is just the beginning.
