Forty seven days ahead of official schedule, Israeli disengagement from Gaza strip has in effect begun, Ha'aretz's Amos Harel declares, in an analysis today:

If anyone was still harboring doubts, along came yesterday's day of battles throughout the country and laid them to rest: The disengagement has arrived.

Some 47 days before the evacuation is due to begin, the escalation can be felt everywhere - on the northern border, where Hezbollah renewed its attacks and provided a taste of things to come during the pullout; on the country's roads, which were blocked by thousands of demonstrators in orange; and in Gush Katif, where the lunatic fringe of the right showed its true face.

The only encouraging news came yesterday evening from Gush Katif. After weeks of unnecessary hesitation, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police finally took action against the extremists, declaring the hotel on the beach a closed military zone and ordering the leaders of the outpost out of the area. At the same time, police and members of the Police Special Anti-Terror Unit broke into a Palestinian home commandeered early in the week by settler youth, arrested those present and cleared the outpost.

More here and here.

Posted by Laura at June 30, 2005 10:08 AM