Israeli army to start removing equipment from Gaza Strip: source

JERUSALEM - The Israeli army is to begin pulling non-essential equipment out of the Gaza Strip within the next two weeks, in preparation for its complete withdrawal from the territory, a military source said on Saturday.
The army has also started building bases in southern Israel to house the troops that are due to withdraw from the Gaza Strip by later this year, the source added. He said building work started last Tuesday, March 15.
He said that the equipment that would be moved out initially would not be essential to the security of either troops or Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip.
The pull-out from Gaza is due to start at the end of July, and to be completed in the space of a few weeks.

03/19/2005 06:41 GMT