NITZAN, Israel, 1 August 2005 — The first Jewish settler families voluntarily left the Gaza Strip yesterday, two weeks ahead of the planned Israeli withdrawal.
The first settlers received keys to their new “cara-villa” or caravan homes after they had started packing up their households in the Nisanit settlement in the north of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Israeli Housing Minister Isaac Herzog warned yesterday that about half of the 1,700 settler families were not prepared to move voluntarily.
Speaking on Israel Army Radio, Herzog said: “We are doing everything to notably reduce the number (of opponents).” The Israeli government wants to begin clearing a total of 25 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and in the north of the West Bank.
Radical opponents have announced that they will resist the move and the government wants to dock part of their state compensation.
The first settler families left Nisanit last Friday. After receiving the keys in the temporary Nitzan settlement, other settlers said yesterday they wanted to avoid tension shortly before the date of the withdrawal. They said there was a danger of Palestinian rocket attacks.
One settler, Ety Ben Dahan said: “We would not have left if it was not for the Qassam rockets.” Meanwhile, Israeli security forces prepared for renewed protests by those opposed to the withdrawal. On Tuesday, demonstrators intend holding several protest marches in an attempt to access the Gush Katif settlement block presently sealed off by Israeli military.
