JERUSALEM - Israeli settlers who face being uprooted from the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the northern West Bank are to be disarmed before their evacuation this summer, defence ministry sources said Thursday.
The orders were issued by Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz to local commanders as part of the build-up to the pullout which is due to begin in earnest in late July.
In addition, it was also confirmed that police taking part in the month-long operation would not be armed in order to avoid any possible exchanges of fire with the settlers, the sources added.
04/14/2005 15:25 GMT