Military

DATE=08/15/2005

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-326566

TITLE= ISRAEL EVACUATION (L)

BYLINE= LARRY JAMES

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

HEADLINE: Israeli Settlement Evacuation Begins Amid Protests

INTRO: Israeli troops have begun fanning out into the Jewish settlements of the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank to hand out eviction notices giving settlers 48 hours to leave voluntarily or face forced evacuation under the government's controversial disengagement plan. VOA's Larry James has more from Jerusalem.

TEXT:

/// SOLDIER ON MEGAPHONE ACT HEBREW IN FULL THEN FADE ///

That was the sound, Monday, at the largest Gaza settlement Neve Dekalim -- an Israeli soldier calmly informing settlers that the teams distributing evacuation notices were coming in whether they liked it or not.

/// ACTUALITY UP FULL THEN FADE OUT UNDER ///

While he addressed the large crowd that had gathered at the front entrance to the settlement, hundreds of Israeli troops and police entered through the back way, without incident -- a potential confrontation avoided. Once inside, however, they encountered other angry residents determined to resist.

/// SETTLER SCREAMING IN HEBREW FADE UNDER ///

Elsewhere in Gaza and in four settlements in the northern West Bank, teams of Israeli soldiers and police began handing out the official eviction notices.

In some instances, security forces were met with pleas not to carry out their order like this man who wept as the drama began to unfold in the northern Gaza settlement of Elai Sinai.

///DISTRAUGHT SETTLER ACTUALITY ///

"We have Jews trying to kill Jewish communities. This is no disengagement. This is a community destruction plan. This is no such thing as disengagement. The only disengagement this is is a disengagement from sanity, from survival and the future of the Jewish people."

/// END ACTUALITY ///

Authorities expect about half of the estimated eight thousand-500 settlers in Gaza will leave voluntarily. But others, along with thousands of outside supporters who have managed to infiltrate into the settlements, are determined to resist.

The regional Israeli commander directly responsible for the operation, General Dan Harel, said the operation is going to plan, despite some delays.

/// HAREL IN HEBREW FADE UNDER ///

General Harel says the troops have come today to talk and not to confront anyone, but acknowledge that there has been resistance from some young people in several places. He says, if that continues, troops would go in and remove these young protesters and then continue on talking to the settler families. (SIGNED)

NEB/LDJ/WD