BEIJING, Aug. 9 -- The first Jewish settlers have voluntarily left settlements in the West Bank. And government figures show that the majority of Gaza settlers have applied for funds to leave. Meanwhile, the government has reinforced security, and the police and army are holding drills to prepare for the pullout.

    The first Jewish family voluntarily moved out of the West Bank settlement of Homesh on Monday. The move was in accordance with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to disengage from four West Bank settlements and the Gaza strip.

    Government figures showed on Monday that nearly 60 percent of Jewish settlers due to be removed from Gaza and part of the West Bank have applied for compensation. That's been taken as a sign of their willingness to leave.

    Those who choose to move out of the settlement ahead of time appear to do so in fear of the hardship their family, children in particular, might go through.

    Israel's cabinet gave formal approval on Sunday for the removal of the first three of 21 Gaza settlements to be evacuated under the pullout due to begin on August 17th.

    Under the plan, Israel will remove 9,000 settlers from Gaza and the northern West Bank as part of a unilateral "disengagement" from conflict with Palestinians.

    Also on Monday at an army base in southern Israel, the police and army held a drill to prepare for the pullout. Soldiers acting as settlers locked themselves in the army base, chanting and waving flags. As part of the mock exercise, security forces broke into the compound and dragged the settlers away.

    World leaders hope Israel's first removal of Jewish settlements from land that Palestinians want for an independent state will pave the way for renewed discussions on a "road map" to peace.

    (Source: cctv.com)