Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip complete, the remaining post-1967 communities selected to be closed will be evacuated on Tuesday as the pullout enters its ninth day.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon received a congratulatory phone call from Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas on Monday. The two men reportedly agreed to meet soon.
Earlier in the day ‘Abbas had visited with several hundred Palestinians injured while fighting against Israel. He told the group that the Gaza pullout was just the first step in Israel’s withdrawal from all of the post-1967 territory and that, “We will not rest until they leave from all of our land.”
Reiterating a theme that ‘Abbas has been using since the Israeli withdrawal began, he told his audience of wounded that, “The credit for the evacuation is for you and for the martyrs who sacrificed themselves and gave their lives for the homeland.”
At the same time, Sharon convened his government and told the ministers that their most urgent mission now is the “resettling of the settlers in their new communities.” Sharon added that, “All ministries in my government must act immediately to dedicate maximum effort and management to the rebuilding.”