MIDDLE EAST: Israeli security forces cleared out another settlement in the Gaza Strip yesterday, demolished homes in an evacuated settlement and began digging trenches east of the major settlement bloc to keep out Palestinians, before halting the pull-out operation for the duration of the Sabbath.
In an incident at the southern tip of Israel, a katyusha rocket fired from Jordan landed near the airport in the Israeli seaside resort of Eilat, but did not cause any injuries. A total of three rockets were fired from a hilly area above the Jordanian port of Aqaba, one of them narrowly missing a US naval vessel anchored there.
A Jordanian soldier was killed in the attack and Jordanian troops were engaged in a manhunt for the perpetrators last night. A group linked to al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack in an internet statement.
After violent confrontations on Thursday in the settlement of Kfar Darom, where hundreds of young protesters poured oil, sand and acid on troops trying to evacuate them from the roof of a synagogue, the resistance at Gadid was less intense.
While the 15 remaining families in the settlement were evacuated peacefully, several hundred youths who had infiltrated the settlement in recent weeks holed up in the synagogue and on rooftops.
Some protesters hurled roof tiles at the evacuating troops and oil was poured on the road in an attempt to hamper the evacuation. The army again used water cannons to get the protesters off rooftops. One woman slipped on oil and fell off a roof; she was taken to hospital.
At the synagogue, troops carried out some 90 protesters who resisted passively. Before being evacuated, the protesters held a special prayer service and removed the Torah scroll from the synagogue.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called the rooftop antics on Thursday in Kfar Darom "criminal", saying his "pain" at watching the evacuation suddenly "turned to rage".
In an interview in the daily Haaretz, he said "all measures must be taken to investigate everyone, to prosecute and punish, and also to check who sent them and who incited them".
In the small settlement of Kerem Atzmona, which was evacuated earlier in the week, army bulldozers moved in and began demolishing prefab homes, in line with an agreement reached with the Palestinian Authority. Public buildings will be left intact for the Palestinians to use.
Israeli troops also began digging 8m-deep trenches yesterday around the main Gaza settlement bloc of Gush Katif, where most of the settlers have already been evacuated. The army wants to ensure that Palestinian militants do not infiltrate the settlements or hold victory marches into the settlements before the evacuation has been completed.
Although military officials are predicting that all the Gaza settlements will be cleared by Tuesday next week, troops will have to remain in the area for several more weeks to complete the demolition of settler homes and to dismantle military installations.
The evacuation will resume tomorrow, and inhabitants of the six remaining settlements in Gaza - 15 have been evacuated so far - will be removed. The army is then expected to focus its efforts on the settlements of Homesh and Sa-Nur in the northern West Bank.
Addressing a crowd in southern Gaza, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas called the evacuation of settlements a "great joy". "This pull-out was the result of the sacrifices, patience and wisdom of our people," he said. "The more important step after the withdrawal will be how we protect, rebuild. . . and administer this land so we can set an example for the world."