Israel Threatens Massive Ground Operation

07/31/2005

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel would launch a massive ground operation if Palestinian militants fire on Israeli soldiers and settlers during next month’s Gaza pullout, the deputy defense minister said Sunday.

In such a scenario, the evacuation of settlers would be halted for 10 days to two weeks while Israeli forces occupy Palestinian towns near the Jewish settlements, said Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim.

Boim told Israel Radio the ground operation would be massive, on the scale of the “Defensive Shield” offensive of 2002, in which Israel reoccupied West Bank towns in response to a series of suicide bombings.