Palestinians triumphant as Israel quits Gaza

NEVE DEKALIM – Israel closed the door on four decades of occupation of the Gaza Strip yesterday, handing control to triumphant Palestinian forces who quickly began bulldozing synagogues ransacked by mobs.

Palestinians fired celebratory shots into the air, raising their flag in former Jewish settlements as convoys of Israeli tanks rolled across the border, marking the historic end of a military presence embroiled in bloodshed. After sunrise, the flags of militant factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad could also be seen fluttering over buildings left standing in Neve Dekalim, including the municipal headquarters and synagogue.Israel had baulked at the task of destroying some two dozen synagogues left standing in the Mediterranean strip of land, causing bitter acrimony with the Palestinian Authority and inviting mobs to ransack the structures.Thousands of Palestinian security forces moved into the settlements overnight, dancing and singing patriotic songs within the settlements built on land that Israel captured in war 38 years ago.”We are seeing soldiers, tanks and Israeli military vehicles leaving our land and the Israeli flag lowered and replaced for always by the Palestinian flag,” said Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, describing it as a “day of joy.””Much work still needs to be done but nothing can take away from this victory.”Israel’s Gaza divisional commander General Avi Kochavi was the last to go, exiting through the metal gates on the Kissufim crossing where military bulldozers dug up mounds of earth to block the entrance.The troop withdrawal follows the clearance of all settlers from Gaza three weeks ago, a political gamble by rightwing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that marked the first time Israel has removed Jews from occupied Palestinian land.The operation took place under cover of darkness, much like Israel’s pullout from south Lebanon more than five years ago but in sharp contrast to the settlers being dragged kicking and screaming from homes and synagogues last month.-Nampa-AFPAfter sunrise, the flags of militant factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad could also be seen fluttering over buildings left standing in Neve Dekalim, including the municipal headquarters and synagogue.Israel had baulked at the task of destroying some two dozen synagogues left standing in the Mediterranean strip of land, causing bitter acrimony with the Palestinian Authority and inviting mobs to ransack the structures.Thousands of Palestinian security forces moved into the settlements overnight, dancing and singing patriotic songs within the settlements built on land that Israel captured in war 38 years ago.”We are seeing soldiers, tanks and Israeli military vehicles leaving our land and the Israeli flag lowered and replaced for always by the Palestinian flag,” said Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, describing it as a “day of joy.””Much work still needs to be done but nothing can take away from this victory.”Israel’s Gaza divisional commander General Avi Kochavi was the last to go, exiting through the metal gates on the Kissufim crossing where military bulldozers dug up mounds of earth to block the entrance.The troop withdrawal follows the clearance of all settlers from Gaza three weeks ago, a political gamble by rightwing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that marked the first time Israel has removed Jews from occupied Palestinian land.The operation took place under cover of darkness, much like Israel’s pullout from south Lebanon more than five years ago but in sharp contrast to the settlers being dragged kicking and screaming from homes and synagogues last month.-Nampa-AFP