Army to Disarm Settlers Before Pullout

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(AP) - The Israeli military plans to disarm residents of four Jewish settlements in the West Bank two weeks before the communities are to be dismantled this summer, officials said Monday, reflecting growing concern that settler resistance in the West Bank will be far more difficult to put down than in the fenced-in Gaza Strip. Access for Israeli extremists already living in the West Bank to the four tiny northern settlements is relatively easy, and the warning conjured images of thousands of ultranationalists converging on the settlements to prevent their evacuation -- as they have resisted removal of unauthorized outposts in recent months. More...


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050411/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians_3

I don't think people, who want to boycott Israeli academics, and so forth, in order to force an immediate withdrawal from the West Bank, have any idea how difficult this really is. Particularly since there are religious and historical factors involved, it is going to be very hard.

The spectre of Jews imposing violence upon their fellow Jews is a nightmare. Moreover, for many, and not just for nationalist reasons, the imposition of judenrien on the West Bank is a devastating concept. This is particularly true because Jewish people have lived on the West Bank, continuously, even since the Diaspora.

Moreover, security issues remain. There are still no formal peace agreements in place, in spite of the efforts of Jordan and Egypt.

The fact that plans are going forward should be an indication of the lengths to which the majority of Israeli people, and their government, are willing to go in the pursuit of peace.

Blessings to all who are trying to make things work out, including the brave efforts of Mr. Abbas, the Palestinian people and the neighboring states.

And understanding, please, from people who want things to be perfect overnight.

[Coastie for Truth]

1. I put these settlers between

Rev Randall Terry and Eric Rudolph (the Atlanta Park Bomber), from the same mold as Yigal Amir and Sirhan Sirhan (see, I'm non-discriminatory).

[Colorado Blue]

2. Yeah. It's scary. One hopes they will come to their senses,

and not destroy the country along with hopes for peace.

Another problem is this: there are a LARGE number of Israeli citizens living on the West Bank. Most of them are probably around the urban areas, like Jerusalem, since, according to maps I found on the BBC site, only about 2% of Palestinian land is involved in settlements.

In any case, absorbing them back into Israel proper is going to be a challenge, and will take time. Housing will have to be built, and so forth. I think, that is why Sharon is reluctant to agree with Bush, to stop the expansion of the close-in settlements.

I hope that one issue doesn't become a huge stumbling block. There is going to have to be some compromise here, on BOTH sides.