Israel may advance August date for Gaza pullout

Israel could bring forward its planned mid-August withdrawal from the Gaza Strip to avoid further mass protests to disrupt it, senior offici...

Israel could bring forward its planned mid-August withdrawal from the Gaza Strip to avoid further mass protests to disrupt it, senior officials said on Thursday.

Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert raised the prospect of moving up the timetable for settlement evacuation hours before US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s arrival on a troubleshooting mission aimed at keeping the Gaza plan on track.

Rice cut short an Africa tour to fly into the Middle East on Thursday on her third trip here this year.

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On Wednesday night, a march on Gaza’s settlements by thousands of demonstrators fizzled out after security forces blocked the way, but Israeli police said they arrested about 300 people trying to slip into the occupied strip overnight.

Settlement evacuation is scheduled to begin around August 17, but officials are increasingly worried about giving ultranationalists any more time to mount disruptive protests and foment resistance among a hard core of Gaza settlers.

However, attempts to bring forward the withdrawal would further antagonise religious settlers and their supporters who believe Jews have a biblical birthright to Gaza.

After the settlers are evacuated, the Israeli army intends to blow up all synangoges and religious schools as many Israelis fear the Palestinians would desecrate the synagogues if they were left intact.

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On the Palestinian side, PM Ahmed Qurie said Palestinians would celebrate ‘‘over every single metre of land’’ that Israel withdrew from.