Israel considers moving Gaza pullout after protest
21/07/2005 - 08:47:29The Israeli government is considering moving up its mid-August withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, senior officials said today, after a three-day mass protest against the pullout tied up tens of thousands of security forces.
Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s point man on the Gaza evacuation, said he would favourably consider moving up the pullout in light of the protest.
Israel sent 20,000 police and soldiers to block the protesters from marching to the Gaza settlements to reinforce the settlers there.
“This confrontation saps a great deal of energy, disrupts the lives of all of the country’s residents, doesn’t lead to any advantage. So I would definitely weigh (an earlier withdrawal) favourably,” Olmert told Israel Radio.
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