This is the second time in two months Mofaz has cut the allotted time for the expulsion, due to fears that a lengthy operation will endanger its completion. It was originally scheduled to take 12 weeks, was then cut down to 8 weeks, and now has been cut to 4 or less.
The defense minister revealed the new timetable in talks with police officials Friday afternoon. Until now, 2,500 policeman and 1,500 Border Guardsmen were allocated to the uprooting, as well as 2,500 soldiers in supporting roles. Now, however, an additional 3,000 soldiers will have to be deployed for disengagement purposes.
Some 10,000 soldiers have signed petitions stating they will refuse orders to take part in Sharon's plan to forcibly evacuate 8,500 Jewish residents of northern Samaria and Gaza from their homes.
One of the factors that prompted Mofaz to order a further reduction in the time frame is the widespread opposition to the withdrawal/expulsion plan. The disengagement forces will have to contend with the massive presence of students on summer vacation. Mofaz hopes that the abbreviated time schedule will give the opponents less time to carry out their plans.
The PA election campaign this summer could also present a major problem for the government. Military officials have said that soldiers will be positioned throughout Gaza to prevent terrorist attacks, but their presence will also be considered by the PA as an interference in its election campaign.
The potential for violence in Gaza was underscored Saturday by a protest against the PA by thousands of unemployed Arabs. Protestors threw rocks and broke windows in the PA council building in Gaza, and tried to force their way inside. PA police shot in the air to scatter the crowds.
MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) said that Mofaz's unilateral decision stands in opposition to previous Cabinet decisions that stipulated a particular disengagement timetable. Orlev also said he will object strongly to any decision that forces IDF soldiers to engage in removing Jews from their homes.
Another obstacle to a quick execution of the plan is the coincidence of the pullout period with two days of fasting in which Jews recall previous disasters in Jewish history. The first fast day, the 17th of the month of Tammuz, falls on Sunday, July 24, while the second one is Tisha B'Av, on Sunday, August 14. The fasts will further complicate the planned expulsion because they immediately follow the Sabbath, during which Mofaz has indicated the evacuation will cease.
The emotions of a forced evacuation on the fast days, which are in memory of previous disasters in Jewish history during the same period, will make it difficult for defense forces to execute the operation on those days.
The defense minister revealed the new timetable in talks with police officials Friday afternoon. Until now, 2,500 policeman and 1,500 Border Guardsmen were allocated to the uprooting, as well as 2,500 soldiers in supporting roles. Now, however, an additional 3,000 soldiers will have to be deployed for disengagement purposes.
Some 10,000 soldiers have signed petitions stating they will refuse orders to take part in Sharon's plan to forcibly evacuate 8,500 Jewish residents of northern Samaria and Gaza from their homes.
One of the factors that prompted Mofaz to order a further reduction in the time frame is the widespread opposition to the withdrawal/expulsion plan. The disengagement forces will have to contend with the massive presence of students on summer vacation. Mofaz hopes that the abbreviated time schedule will give the opponents less time to carry out their plans.
The PA election campaign this summer could also present a major problem for the government. Military officials have said that soldiers will be positioned throughout Gaza to prevent terrorist attacks, but their presence will also be considered by the PA as an interference in its election campaign.
The potential for violence in Gaza was underscored Saturday by a protest against the PA by thousands of unemployed Arabs. Protestors threw rocks and broke windows in the PA council building in Gaza, and tried to force their way inside. PA police shot in the air to scatter the crowds.
MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) said that Mofaz's unilateral decision stands in opposition to previous Cabinet decisions that stipulated a particular disengagement timetable. Orlev also said he will object strongly to any decision that forces IDF soldiers to engage in removing Jews from their homes.
Another obstacle to a quick execution of the plan is the coincidence of the pullout period with two days of fasting in which Jews recall previous disasters in Jewish history. The first fast day, the 17th of the month of Tammuz, falls on Sunday, July 24, while the second one is Tisha B'Av, on Sunday, August 14. The fasts will further complicate the planned expulsion because they immediately follow the Sabbath, during which Mofaz has indicated the evacuation will cease.
The emotions of a forced evacuation on the fast days, which are in memory of previous disasters in Jewish history during the same period, will make it difficult for defense forces to execute the operation on those days.