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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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 Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:16 pm Israeli Forces to Forcibly Remove Gaza Settlers |
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Israeli Forces to Forcibly Remove Gaza Settlers
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
REIM, Israel � Israel dispatched soldiers to the Gaza Strip (search) at the crack of dawn Wednesday, beginning the next and possibly final phase of the pullout: forcible removal of Jewish settlers who continued to cling to their homes.
More than 100 Israeli military vehicles left a huge staging area at 6 a.m. (11 p.m. EDT) and headed toward the main crossing point to Gaza. About 50 people protesting the withdrawal managed to delay the convoy by blocking the streets, forcing soldiers and police to drag them out of the vehicles' path.
Settlers said about 2,000 people, mostly "reinforcements" from the West Bank who opposed the pullout, were in Gaza's main synagogue at Neve Dekalim (search), the largest Gaza settlement. However, the actual number of people there appeared to be smaller.
About 2,000 soldiers and police were already deployed in the settlement to haul out the die-hards who refused to leave after the midnight evacuation deadline passed.
On Tuesday, soldiers marched through the gate and fanned out through the village. Commanders carried maps, and troops took up positions near the industrial zone, linking arms to form a cordon. Other soldiers went house-to-house, trying to persuade residents one last time to leave voluntarily.
At times, settlers and soldiers were reduced to tears as they argued over the wisdom of abandoning Gaza, Israeli-occupied land for 38 years and the focus of deadly Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.
One woman was overheard telling a soldier how her mother was forced to flee Nazi Germany. "Just remember that you are the evil one who is throwing me out of my house," the woman said, rebuffing the soldier's offer of help.
Moments before midnight, scores of settlers were in synagogues in several Gaza communities, dancing around sacred Torah scrolls. They waved flags and sang nationalist songs, protesting the eventual handing of the land to Palestinian control.
Israeli officials said about half of Gaza's 1,600 settlement families had left voluntarily. The army said it would continue to assist anyone who wanted to leave voluntarily, even after the deadline.
"I look with hope to the future, that the price we are paying ... will in the end bring about a positive change in Israel's situation," said Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.
Earlier in Neve Dekalim, soldiers burst through the main gate to clear the way for about 120 moving trucks. Within hours, a crowd gathered and protesters threw bottles, eggs and stones, and set fire to garbage bins and tires. Smoke blackened the air. Police said four officers were injured -- one by an unspecified liquid thrown in his face.
Settlers in several farming communities burned their greenhouses and homes rather than leave them behind. One man punched holes in the walls of his house with a sledgehammer.
Israeli authorities said once Gaza is cleared of civilians it will take several more weeks before Israel finishes dismantling military installations and relinquishes the coastal strip.
The fiercest resistance came from some 5,000 Jewish nationalists who slipped into Gaza in recent weeks to reinforce the anti-withdrawal camp. Police handcuffed several withdrawal opponents in Neve Dekalim, seeming to target the infiltrators.
Hundreds of opponents continued trying to reach Gaza, trampling over Israeli crops near the border to circumvent army roadblocks. Police had detained 830 people since Monday night trying to either enter Gaza or block roads to stop settlers from leaving, according to Israel Radio.
About 1,000 more protesters camped outside Sharon's Jerusalem residence.
Sharon has said giving up any territory and taking down settlements is very painful, and this week's confrontations could bolster his argument that Israel is making a huge concession that deserves international recognition.
By nightfall, three settlements -- Dugit, Peat Sadeh and Rafiah Yam -- were abandoned, and most residents had left three others. Several others were thinning out.
The military commander of the Gaza sector, Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, said the army had been working with the Palestinian Authority on the evacuation and "cooperation is very good." At Israel's request, Palestinian police dispersed several marches that were threatening to move toward Israeli positions, he said.
The level of Palestinian attacks had fallen sharply, he said, with only three incidents recorded since the evacuation began Monday. No one was hurt.
Palestinians held noisy demonstrations in Gaza City to celebrate the pullout. Young men cruised the city in open cars, some firing rifles into the air and brandishing rocket launchers.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia told his Cabinet he was forming eight teams to coordinate the takeover of settlement land, including representatives of the militant Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements.
The Gaza withdrawal is a landmark moment in the Mideast conflict. Although Israel has relinquished other land captured in 1967 to Egypt, in exchange for a peace treaty, this is the first Israeli pullout from territory claimed by Palestinians for their own state.
Sharon's critics say he is giving away Gaza and getting nothing in return. Some say Gaza is part of the Jews' biblical heritage, and Sharon has no right to abandon it.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent Sharon a message of support. "I greatly admire the courage with which you have developed and implemented this policy," he wrote.
On the last day in Gaza for most of them, settlers bade tearful farewells to the farms and gardens they fashioned from sand and scrub. Religious settlers called it a "funeral." Some settlers, especially those threatening to resist eviction, maintained a normal routine until the end.
Thousands at Neve Dekalim inaugurated a mikvah, or ritual bath, with dancing and joyous songs of prayer.
Stewart Tucker, a former Cleveland biology teacher who helped found Netzer Hazani, the first Gaza settlement, in 1975, harvested celery. "I don't know if we will get paid for it but at least we are picking," he said.
Day One of the evacuation saw little trouble. Troops refrained from forcing their way into settlements with eviction notices, warning settlers that anyone left in Gaza after midnight Tuesday would be evicted and could lose part of their government-promised compensation often amounting to several hundred thousand dollars.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Surprised no one has pooosted this yet. Is done now though.
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:28 pm |
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I saw this on the news actually. I'm not sure what to think about that. I'm not trying to "lessen" their plight, but is anyone reminded of the Maquis? They are being forced to leave their homes and resettle and they dont want to. Although, in this case, they dont have an option to stay...
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:50 pm |
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I was going to post this but I had to leave for the BB King, Kenny Wayne Sheapard, and Robert Cray concert. (It was AWESOME, btw. BB King was good, Kenny Wayne Sheapard was AWESOME (like Stevie Ray Vaughn--he was the rockin' one), and Robert Cray was great, despite his anti-Iraq war song.)
I think this shows that the Israelis are really serious about peace, and that's a good thing.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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magenta
Commander
Joined: 24 May 2005
Posts: 404
Location: AUSTRALIA
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| Wed Aug 17, 2005 1:44 am |
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 I think it is the right thing to do,they cant continue to just take land that isnt theirs and get away with it just because they have money! 
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Wed Aug 17, 2005 2:16 am |
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Yay  Goodies the rightful owners are getting their land back.
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:03 am |
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The ones who were helping the people try and get rid of all the Jews, 
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:34 am |
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Palestina has been around longer than the manufactured state of Israel my friend 
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:37 am |
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Yes, but the history is actually totally mixed up.
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madlilnerd
Duchess of Dancemat
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 5885
Location: Slough, England
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| Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:53 am |
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Pfft. Why can't they share holy land? God gave it to everyone... you don't flipping own anything.
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:17 pm |
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That's what they are trying to do. I wasn't saying it was just the Jew's, but that it does have a bit of a right to them.
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magenta
Commander
Joined: 24 May 2005
Posts: 404
Location: AUSTRALIA
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| Wed Aug 17, 2005 11:02 pm |
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Palistien have been around for ages,I am not a racist person,I hated what the germans did to the jews.When the war finished they were given a piece of land to call their own.  They grew as a people,which is a normal occurance.But they started to demand more and more land to accomodate their growing people.They need to learn to co-exist with the palisteins and compromise.They cannot just take the land without paying for it or without permission from the people who actually own it!
The palistines do not have as much money or military power as the Isreallis,there for they cannot hope to defend themselves.Thats when the suicide bombers came in!But thats another arguement!
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Thu Aug 18, 2005 4:40 pm |
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Unfortunately the terrorist groups there are playing this as a "great victory"--that they had been succeessful--which is only EMBOLDENING the terrorists and expanding their influence. Also, the Un was giving support to the terrorists in their propaganda campaign here, which is WRONG.
This is the bad effect of this pull-out.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:03 am |
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Israeli terrorism is also a bad effect of the pull out
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nadia
cookie
Joined: 08 Apr 2005
Posts: 8560
Location: Australia
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| Fri Aug 19, 2005 6:48 am |
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This is wicked what there doing 
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Captain Dappet
Forum Revolutionist
Joined: 06 Feb 2002
Posts: 16756
Location: On my supersonic rocket ship.
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| Fri Aug 19, 2005 12:49 pm |
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They're giving the Palestines back the land the Israelis took from them, is that so wicked?
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Fri Aug 19, 2005 12:54 pm |
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| Captain Dappet wrote: | | They're giving the Palestines back the land the Israelis took from them, is that so wicked? |
Well, that's not the case. They're doing what's best in the interest of peace--NOT because they "took it from them," which wasn't exactly the case. What's wicked is what the terrorists are doing, using their propaganda to say that they are winning and that's why the Israelis are pulling out--because they've lost.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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magenta
Commander
Joined: 24 May 2005
Posts: 404
Location: AUSTRALIA
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| Fri Aug 19, 2005 8:33 pm |
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:(What is the case?When did it belong to them?It has always been palistine land from way before the war.Money and power makes people think they can take and do whatever they want! 
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Fri Aug 19, 2005 8:46 pm |
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| magenta wrote: | | :(What is the case?When did it belong to them?It has always been palistine land from way before the war.Money and power makes people think they can take and do whatever they want! |
Uh...you keep thinking that that's what's happening, if it helps you sleep at night 
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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nadia
cookie
Joined: 08 Apr 2005
Posts: 8560
Location: Australia
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| Fri Aug 19, 2005 8:48 pm |
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I'm not sure why I said it was wicked what there doing, but I hear mum saying that it's wicked what they are doing, so I think it's wicked cause she thinks it's wicked.
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magenta
Commander
Joined: 24 May 2005
Posts: 404
Location: AUSTRALIA
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| Fri Aug 19, 2005 9:35 pm |
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:)That is the truth,the world governments back up the isrealis all the time because they own everything.
They own the biggest banks,the stock exchange and the world leaders back them,because they cant afford not to! 
That is why the terrorists are resorting to the horrific acts of suicide bombing.Its the only way the arabs can get their message across,no money to fight.I in no way condone what they are doing but have a better understanding of the why!
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:10 pm |
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| magenta wrote: | :)That is the truth,the world governments back up the isrealis all the time because they own everything.
They own the biggest banks,the stock exchange and the world leaders back them,because they cant afford not to!
That is why the terrorists are resorting to the horrific acts of suicide bombing.Its the only way the arabs can get their message across,no money to fight.I in no way condone what they are doing but have a better understanding of the why! |
Uh, no they don't. Where have you been? Most nations DON'T, in fact, support Israel, and France and the Un and most of the Mid-East countries prove it. It's really the US that's their friend. Without us, they would be gone.
You're argument really is baseless and just makes no sense.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Wed Aug 24, 2005 5:58 am |
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What happened about the 6 day war? I really wouldn't be complaining about keeping some land if Britain was attacked but we won.
But this is a move in the right direction. I just hope it's not for nothing.
Also the Palestinians are in some ways a barganing tool for the Arabs.
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Wed Aug 24, 2005 10:10 am |
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In my oh-so-humble opinion, Isreal should not have been allowed to keep the land they occupied. Military colonialism is wrong.
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"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Aug 24, 2005 4:27 pm |
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I'm glad that it's done. This shows just how determined Israel is for peace. Now, if things will just work out otherwise...
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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