Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says the ongoing Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is a painful step that is essential to Israel's national security.
Speaking to a national television audience, the prime minister said Israel can not hold onto the territory forever. He noted that 8,500 settlers are surrounded in Gaza by more than a million Palestinians, many of whom live in crowded refugee camps.
He said it is now up to the Palestinians to rein-in militants. He said Israel will respond with an olive branch to Palestinian peace overtures, and warned of the harshest response ever to further attacks.
Earlier Monday, Israel's top general, Dan Halutz, warned that troops will forcibly remove any Israeli who remains in the territory on Wednesday.
Thousands of Israeli soldiers and police descended on Gaza overnight to deliver eviction orders. Their entry was blocked in at least five of 21 settlements by young people opposed to the pullout.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
