BEIJING, Mar. 13 -- Israel has approved plans to complete the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in just up to four weeks, sigificantly shortening the original three month timetable.

    Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz hopes this will help decrease resistance. "I think that the withdrawal should be as short as possible. This is important for the settlers in the Gaza Strip and north Samaria from the aspect of violence and clashes," he said. 

    The withdrawal from all of the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements will begin in July, and will take between three to four weeks to complete.

    Government officials are concerned that a prolonged pullout will increase friction and clashes among soldiers, police and Jewish settlers who are bitterly opposed to the withdrawal from the territory.

    Jewish settler leaders have called on their followers to oppose the evacuation at the risk of going to prison, but say they will only use non-violent means of resistance.

(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)