BEIJING, Mar. 2 -- Israel's defense minister warned Monday he would send large forces into Palestinian neighborhoods if Israeli troops and settlers came under fire during the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this summer.

    The military faces twin threats during the pullout, from extremist settlers and Palestinian militants. Settlers want to stop the evacuation of all 21 settlements from Gaza and four from the West Bank, while militants want to show they are driving the Israelis out by force.

    Israeli officials said Monday they might leave houses in Gaza settlements intact, reversing earlier assertions they would be torn down to spare the settlers the vision of Palestinians taking them over.

    Palestinian attacks during the Gaza withdrawal "would require us to go into Palestinian Authority territory with very, very large forces to those places which overlook the areas to be evacuated," Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said.

    As part of the truce declared earlier this month by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Israel has stopped its frequent raids into Palestinian areas of Gaza.

    Originally described as "unilateral disengagement," the Gaza pullout is shaping up now as a joint effort involving Israel, the Palestinians and Egypt.

    (Source: Shenzhen Daily)