Gaza Disengagement Complete
Gaza settlers and Israeli soldiers provide a lesson to the world:
Bar-Lev echoed Harel's sentiments, saying that part of the responsibility for the peaceful implementation of the disengagement from Gaza was due to the settlers. "We are looking ahead to a period of recuperation where we can continue to be one nation, one people in one state. We're leaving with a lot of hope for the future," Harel concluded.
The entire Gaza Strip was virtually empty of jews by 7:30 p.m. Monday.
At 1:30 p.m., residents of Netzarim gathered for a final prayer in their synagogue before they permanently left the settlement. After a series of emotional addresses by Netzarim leaders, by 2:30 p.m the prayer had begun. Most of the homes stood empty while hundreds crowded into the synagogue, many weeping and hugging each other supportively. Soldiers stood by outside, and some of them joined in the final prayers.
Earlier in the afternoon, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz joined Harel in going house-to-house, knocking on doors, supporting the residents during their final hours in the community.
These are the people that for years have been demonized by the anti-Israel Left and Right as modern-day Nazis. Meanwhile, these specimens of peace and culture have been given the label of "freedom fighters:
Hamas militants, jockeying to take credit for Israel's Gaza Strip pullout, said they were involved in 54 percent of 400 attacks on Israeli targets in Gaza in the past five years.
Bar-Lev echoed Harel's sentiments, saying that part of the responsibility for the peaceful implementation of the disengagement from Gaza was due to the settlers. "We are looking ahead to a period of recuperation where we can continue to be one nation, one people in one state. We're leaving with a lot of hope for the future," Harel concluded.
The entire Gaza Strip was virtually empty of jews by 7:30 p.m. Monday.
At 1:30 p.m., residents of Netzarim gathered for a final prayer in their synagogue before they permanently left the settlement. After a series of emotional addresses by Netzarim leaders, by 2:30 p.m the prayer had begun. Most of the homes stood empty while hundreds crowded into the synagogue, many weeping and hugging each other supportively. Soldiers stood by outside, and some of them joined in the final prayers.
Earlier in the afternoon, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz joined Harel in going house-to-house, knocking on doors, supporting the residents during their final hours in the community.
These are the people that for years have been demonized by the anti-Israel Left and Right as modern-day Nazis. Meanwhile, these specimens of peace and culture have been given the label of "freedom fighters:
Hamas militants, jockeying to take credit for Israel's Gaza Strip pullout, said they were involved in 54 percent of 400 attacks on Israeli targets in Gaza in the past five years.
