Israeli Army collects weapons before withdrawal

Security officials today began collecting army-issued weapons from residents of two West Bank settlements marked for evacuation in an effort to prevent violence during Israel’s upcoming withdrawal from the area, according to officials and media reports.

The weapons collection came as thousands of soldiers participated in their final dress rehearsal for the withdrawal at a dusty farming community in southern Israel.

Beginning next Wednesday, Israel plans on withdrawing from all 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and four small enclaves in the West Bank. About 9,000 settlers will be uprooted from their homes.

While most settlers are expected to leave peacefully, authorities are prepared for possible violence by hard-liners. The voluntary weapons collection, which began in the Gaza settlements last week, is seen as an effort to reduce tensions.

Assaf Mani, security director in the settlement of Homesh, said he was collecting weapons today and tomorrow and then planned to turn over the guns to the army. He said residents were also storing private weapons with dealers or other closed places.

“People are angry about this but not opposing it. They are turning in their weapons without incident,” Mani said. He declined to say how many weapons had been collected.

Israeli media said a similar collection was underway in the nearby settlement of Sanur. Both communities, home to a total of about 350 people, are among the four West Bank settlements marked for evacuation.

Sanur, a former artists’ colony, has been taken over by a group of religious ideologues opposed to the pullout, and it could not immediately be confirmed whether residents were co-operating. Military officials did not return messages seeking comment.

Security officials have gone on high alert since an extremist Jew opposed to the withdrawal opened fire on a crowded bus last week, killing four Israeli Arabs, before he was killed by an angry mob.

The army also ordered a family of extremists to leave Sanur earlier today and return to their home elsewhere in the West Bank. The family, including six children, had moved to Sanur in recent weeks, the army said.

With the withdrawal approaching, about 10,000 soldiers participated in their final exercise ahead of the pullout at Kerem Shalom, a communal farm along Israel’s border with Gaza. The army paid for residents to stay in a hotel for the duration of the exercise.

The first soldiers moved into the area around sunrise, closing the village from all directions, then allowing police and paramilitary forces to move in. Mock Palestinian mortar shells were fired at the soldiers, who returned fire and continued their mission after several hours.

The soldiers also clashed with about 40 “residents” who fortified themselves on the roof of a building, screaming at soldiers and throwing stones and flour bags at the forces. One of the protesters accidentally fell off the roof and was being treated by paramedics.