Before dawn the IDF moves troops into Gaza en masse to begin the forcible evacuation of Jewish settlers and disengagement protesters who have not yet left, begins demolishing settler homes in n....
Israeli troops kill Nabil Hammad near Ramallah, the 1,000th Palestinian killed by security forces or settlers since beginning of intifada, according to count maintained by London-based Middle East...
Last 700 PLO forces leave Beirut for North Yemen; Abu lyad and Abu Walid head last PLO group to leave Beirut; Arafat arrives in Greece to warm welcome by Papandreou.
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Before dawn the IDF moves troops into Gaza en masse to begin the forcible evacuation of Jewish settlers and disengagement protesters who have not yet left, begins demolishing settler homes in n. Gaza. By the end of the day, evacuations of Bedolah (est. 1986, pop. 220, size 1,456 d., hrs. to evac. 6), Ganei Tal (est. 1979, pop. 350, size 2,050 d., hrs. to evac. 11), Kerem Atzmona (est. 2001, pop. 24, hrs. to evac. 6), Morag (est. 1972, pop. 220, size 1,300 d., hrs. to evac. 7), Tal Katifa (est. 1992, pop. 60, size 183 d., hrs. to evac. 5) are completed; most residents of Gadid leave voluntarily. Settlers in Atzmona agree to evacuate voluntarily by 8/21, those in Netzarim by 8/22. Settlers who have not arranged their evacuation with the government will be housed temporarily in hotels, mobile homes: e.g., more than half of Morag’s settlers take up temporary residence in the West Bank settlement of Ofra; Israel’s Jerusalem municipality temporarily houses 1,000 Neve Dekalim settlers who have left voluntarily in a Jerusalem hotel. Generally there is little strong resistance; the IDF optimistically says it hopes that the evacuations could be completed within days instead of wks., as earlier estimated. During the day, some scuffles btwn. soldiers, settlers are reported; in some areas settlers set fire to tires and in garbage bins to prevent soldiers fr. entering settlements; at least 2 settlers set fire to their homes before leaving. In Morag, a female IDF soldier is stabbed with a syringe, lightly injured by a disengagement protester. (In total, 13 Israeli soldiers and police are lightly injured during the day.) Gaza settlers and protesters also attack Palestinians: some 200 Kefar Darom settlers rampage through nearby Palestinian areas, set fire to a Palestinian house; 20 Neve Dekalim settlers march through al-Mawasi, spread nails on roads to damage Palestinian cars, try to provoke Palestinian residents (the IDF intervenes, removes the settlers); other Jewish settlers fire on Palestinian homes, vandalize Palestinian greenhouses in the same area. The IDF also demolishes a Palestinian home, conducts arrest raids in al-Mawasi. Meanwhile, Palestinians in Khan Yunis begin returning to their homes on the edge of town facing the settlements, which they had fled since the start of the intifada in 9/00 because of IDF gunfire. Islamic Jihad mbrs. in some 50 boats, carrying banners and weapons, hold a seaborne victory parade off Gaza to celebrate disengagement. Some disengagement protests in Israel turn violent: a disengagement protester tosses a grenade at an IDF checkpoint in s. Israel, wounding 5 IDF soldiers; a female settler fr. Keddumim in the West Bank sets fire to herself during a demonstration in Netivot, is seriously injured. In the West Bank, a Jewish settler fr. Shvut Rachel steals a gun fr. an Israeli security guard at the industrial area of Shilo settlement, fires on Palestinian workers, killing 4 Palestinians, wounding 1. Sharon denounces the attack as “Jewish terror”; Palestinian Authority (PA) PM Mahmud Abbas calls on Palestinian factions to maintain calm, refrain fr. retaliation. At Sanur (to be evacuated under disengagement), 600 Jewish settlers hold an antidisengagement rally. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and in Nur al-Shams refugee camp (r.c.), Tulkarm. Also in Hebron, 4 bedouin children herding goats are injured when they accidentally trigger an unexploded IDF phosphorus shell; the IDF says it uses the shells only in training. A 9-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received when she accidentally triggered unexploded IDF ordnance nr. Karmil. (Arutz 7, BBC, HA, IMEMC, NYT, REU, USA Today, WP, WT, YA 8/17; Voice of Israel, VOP 8/17 in WNC 8/18; BBC, HA, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 8/18; MENA 8/18 in WNC 8/19; NYT 8/20; PCHR, PR 8/25; IMEMC 9/22; HA 11/10)
Israeli troops kill Nabil Hammad near Ramallah, the 1,000th Palestinian killed by security forces or settlers since beginning of intifada, according to count maintained by London-based Middle East Mirror. (MEM 7/30)
Radio Israel reports Israeli military has extended for another year the closure order against Arab Studies Association, headed by Faisal Husseini and based in Jerusalem. (FBIS, MEM 7/29)
Israeli Housing Min. Ariel Sharon states construction uderway on new settlement of Avneh Hafetz near Tulkarm, which he hopes will become the largest settlement in occupied territories. Statement is latest in a series of public moves, statements by Sharon to demonstrate Israeli commitment to furthering settlement building in face of increased U.S., international criticism. (MEM 7/30)
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ariel Sharon tells Israel Radio that 30 new settlements in territories are needed to enhance Israel's security [WP 11/7].
Military Action
Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Yasid 18-yearold Palestinian dies after being shot in the chest by Israeli troops; 8 other Palestinians are injured. In Shaykh Radwan soldiers injure 3 Palestinians during clashes. In Salim troops arrest 5Palestinians [FJ 11/7].
Military Action:
Last 700 PLO forces leave Beirut for North Yemen; Abu lyad and Abu Walid head last PLO group to leave Beirut; Arafat arrives in Greece to warm welcome by Papandreou.
Casualties:
Lebanese Army begins taking over Beirut security as stores open; relief agency officer estimates 20,000 wounded, 4,000 killed in war so far (Al-Nahar estimates 17,825 killed, 30,103 wounded); Amal militia release two Israel Radio workers who entered Burn al-Barajneh Monday.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli officials react angrily to Reagan proposals (Begin interrupts vacation to convene Cabinet meeting for tomorrow; Shamir says Reagan has departed from Camp David Accords; Tehiya Party members call for expanded settlements as answer to Reagan); Weinberger arrives in Israel, meets Sharon; Deputy Premier David Levy, dedicating new Jewish settlement, says government hopes to settle 100,000 Jews in West Bank during next 10 years; Shamir says Israel will never give up occupied territories; Begin meets Bashir Gemayel in secret meeting in Israel border town of Nahariya.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat says US pledge to protect Palestinian refugees left in Lebanon "fundamental" to PLO agreement to leave Beirut (choice of Greece as first stop seen as snub to Arabs); Lebanese government orders all barricades removed inside Beirut, bans armed men from streets, seeks to abolish Green Line (Murabitun reportedly orders forces to comply); Lebanese Muslims oppose quick withdrawal of multinational force.
US and Other Countries: Reagan, in letter to Begin and address to US population, urges "self-rule" by Palestinians in entity linked to Jordan, asks for halt to new Jewish settlements in occupied territories; Senator Hatfield charges $4.5 m. diverted from humanitarian assistance to Lebanon to help pay for PLO evacuation from Beirut; Weinberger meets with Gemayel, Butros, Wazzan, Habib, and says US Marines should leave Beirut within a few days, shocking Lebanese Muslim, European diplomats.
