Defence minister promises no Gaza pull-out delay

Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said today that Israel would not delay its planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip beyond its new mid-August start date, disputing settler hopes that the pull-out can be indefinitely postponed.

The pull-out had originally been scheduled to begin July 20, but the government put it off for three weeks, ostensibly so it would not coincide with a Jewish mourning period. Many in Israel believe the withdrawal was delayed because government preparations are far behind schedule and few of the 9,000 settlers to be evacuated have begun even rudimentary preparations for the move.