JERUSALEM, July 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said he hoped the upcoming pullout from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank will take two to three weeks, Israeli Ha'aretz daily reported Thursday.

    Mofaz told Ha'aretz on Wednesday that he believed that the big exodus of settlers from the Gaza Strip will start during the second week of August, and on Aug. 15 the settlers will be informed they have two days to depart voluntarily before being evacuated by forces.

    Mofaz said that many of the settlers who had denied the idea of leaving their homes were now beginning to think that they had no choice but to leave.

    The rejection of their petitions by the High Court of Justice, the defeat of the vote in the Knesset (parliament) to postpone the withdrawal, and the failure of settler leaders to bring tens of thousands of anti-pullout activists into the Gaza settlements, had all helped them to change their minds, Mofaz elaborated.

    Other contributing factors were the terms of the Evacuation-Compensation Law, which reduces the sums paid to evacuees after Aug. 17, he said.

    About half of the settlers will probably leave on their own free will, Defense Ministry officials estimated.

    Even if a large section of the opponents of evacuation chose to stay, it will be possible to reach agreement with them not to cross "red lines" and turn to violence, the officials added.

    The Israeli forces will remain in the Gaza Strip for several weeks after the evacuation until the army bases and outposts are vacated.

    Mofaz said he was worried about the possibility of an "individual extremist" who could try to act during the implementation of the pullout.

    He is particularly fearful that there may be shooting attack against the security troops evacuating the settlers or that settlers may try to commit suicide in protest against their eviction. Enditem