JERUSALEM - Gaza Strip and northern West Bank settlers should remove children from communities slated for dismantlement ahead of the upcoming evacuation, in order to spare them the trauma, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Monday.
Regarding the evacuation of women from Gaza, Mofaz told the Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee the army has already prepared 2,500 female soldiers and 142 female police officers for that purpose.
The minister vowed to make every effort to prevent a situation where male officers have to evacuate women, and added more female forces are available should they be needed.
'We''ll take weapons by force'
Meanwhile, the security establishment is taking no chances: Settlers’ weapons will be collected before evacuation begins - and by force if necessary.
On Monday, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee hosted Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, who presented the army’s disengagement plan and fielded questions two and a half months before the actual evacuation.
Asked what the IDF will do should settlers refuse to hand over their weapons, Mofaz answered: “The guns are army property, we’ll take them by force from whoever refuses.”
Also on Monday, Likud Party “rebels” are advertising their new campaign against disengagement, warning the public of its dangers and calling for it to be reconsidered.