Last gasps of Gaza defiance

KFAR DAROM - Israeli soldiers surrounded settlers and ultra-nationalists barricaded inside synagogues last night in two key bastions of resistance to the Gaza pullout.

Resolving the stand-offs could break the back of on-the-ground opposition to the forced evacuation of Gaza, the beginning of the end of a 38-year occupation of the territory.

As the huge military operation moved into a second day, troops broke past makeshift barriers and poured into the hardline religious settlement of Kfar Darom, taking up positions round a synagogue filled with hundreds of young radicals.

"We are here forever and we will not leave," a woman announced to soldiers on the settlement's public address system.

Confrontation also loomed at the biggest Gaza enclave, Neve Dekalim, where many settlers were dragged screaming and sobbing from their homes on Wednesday.

Officials planned to negotiate with the remaining radicals before sweeping in.

Despite pockets of resistance, the evacuation of 21 settlements in Gaza and four of 120 enclaves in the West Bank was progressing much faster than expected.

Officials said yesterday that more than 60 per cent of Gaza residents had left or were evicted.

The removal of the settlements, where about 9000 Jews lived isolated from Gaza's 1.4 million Palestinians, marks the first uprooting of enclaves on land the Palestinians say they want for a state.

Washington sees it as a catalyst to renewed peacemaking. However, the pullout has been tainted by spates of violence on both sides.

With emotions at fever pitch in Gaza, a Jewish settler grabbed a gun from a security guard and killed four Palestinian labourers in a West Bank settlement yesterday.

Nearly two weeks ago, an Army deserter trying to disrupt the pullout shot dead four Israeli Arabs aboard a bus in northern Israel.

Palestinian militants fired two mortars at the Gadid settlement and a makeshift rocket near Neve Dekalim yesterday following vows of revenge over the shooting of the labourers, but caused no damage or casualties.

Israel has pledged not to allow Palestinian gunmen to hamper the pullout. Palestinian security forces have deployed near Jewish enclaves to prevent possible militant attacks.

Ordinary Palestinians have watched the evacuation with a mixture of glee and scepticism.

They welcome any pullout but fear Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is trading Gaza for a tighter grip on the West Bank, where 240,000 Jewish settlers live surrounded by 2.4 million Palestinians.

In a major show of force yesterday, 2000 soldiers and police, some carrying clubs in their backpacks, marched into the southern enclave of Kfar Darom.

Facing off against them, dozens of youngsters took up position on the synagogue roof, where they placed razor wire, stacked food supplies and sang The People of Israel Live.

Defiant settlers allowed inside for morning services prayed for divine intervention. Ultra-nationalists believe Gaza and the West Bank were bequeathed to Judaism by God.

"I believe things might be more difficult in Kfar Darom because it's where the toughest nucleus has been concentrated," senior police commander Aharon Franco told Israel Radio.

Troops emptied six Gaza settlements yesterday, often breaking down doors and carrying diehard inhabitants into waiting buses.

In the hardline settlement of Kerem Atzmona, terrified children were caught in the tug-of-war between settlers and soldiers.

As troops ordered settlers to leave, one family pinned Star of David badges on eight children who marched out of a trailer with hands raised - a scene meant to stir up images of the Nazi deportations.

Elsewhere, a father shoved his daughter, about 10, towards a soldier, shouting: "Expel her. Please take her, you are such a hero."

Some settlers had sent their children to live with relatives in Israel so they would not be traumatised. But others kept their children close, saying they wanted them to remember the day they were forced out of their houses.

Observers warned that the youngsters would be deeply traumatised.

"They pretend that the children are suffering, but they [the parents] are the main cause of the suffering of the children," said media analyst Yoram Peri. Yitzhak Kadman, executive director of the National Council for the Child, warned that "children should not be a tool for parents or any other adults to promote their cause".

Israeli officials have repeatedly accused the Palestinians of sending their children to dangerous areas in hopes of winning sympathy.

Palestinian suicide bombers have often targeted areas crowded with Israeli youngsters.

Peri said recruiting children for the struggle over the Gaza pullout would produce a backlash in Israel.

"The majority of Israelis can identify with their [the settlers'] suffering but would not accept the use of children for that purpose," he said.

Throughout yesterday, children were at the centre of the confrontations, but also some of the most heart-wrenching moments.

In the Morag settlement, soldiers carried toddlers out of a nursery and loaded nappies and toys onto buses. A woman soldier with tears in her eyes held a toddler in her arms, gave him some confectionery and implored, "Where is his mother?"

Another soldier waved away flies from a toddler lying in a pushchair.

In Kerem Atzmona, a boy of 5 came to the door of his house with a Star of David on his shirt and pointed to it yelling, "This isn't for nothing".

"I am a believing Jew, a settler and you are evil Jews," the boy shouted at security forces and journalists. The same house carried a sign saying "Judenrein", German for "Jew free".

Officials said mostly secular residents of two of the four West Bank settlements to be evacuated had left.

Much of the remaining resistance in Gaza was being spearheaded by young squatters, who had slipped through a military cordon.

Defiant residents have welcomed any outside assistance they can get, but some have objected to the aggressive behaviour of the youths.

More than 50,000 police and soldiers were deployed in Israel's largest military operation other than in wartime.

Polls show most Israelis support the withdrawal.

Settlements evacuated:

Morag - 221 residents who had been joined by hundreds of protesters have all now left.

Bedolah - 219 people.

Kerem Atzmona - 24 residents.

Ganei Tal - 400 evacuated.

Tel Katifa - 60 residents.

Dugit - 79 settlers left voluntarily.

Ganim/Kadim - twin West Bank enclaves where all 340 residents left voluntarily early in the week.

Most have left:

Elei Sinai - 407 population.
Nissanit - 1064 inhabitants.
Shalev - 50 residents.
Rafiah Yam - 143 settlers.
Gadid - 351 population.
Pe'at Sadeh - 110 settlers.

Awaiting evacuation:

Neve Dekalim - 2671 people. Forces have removed hundreds of settlers and protesters and planned to finish the evacuation overnight.

Kfar Darom - 491 residents. Enclave especially vulnerable to Palestinian attacks. Resistance likely due to influx of radicals.

Shirat Hayam - 40 inhabitants. Hundreds of radicals vowed to stop forces from removing settlers.

Bnei Atzmon - 646 people in settlement that used to be military training academy.

Netzarim - 496 residents. Community leaders say they have agreement to leave on Monday.

Netzer Hazani - 461 settlers.

Gan Or - 351 population.

Katif - 404 Gaza settlers.

Kfar Yam - 10 people live in this settlement.

Homesh - 228 residents in this West Bank settlement.

Sanur - West Bank enclave with 105 inhabitants. Resistance is expected to be strong.

- REUTERS