Quds city, July 12, SPA -- The Israeli military will deal harshly with soldiers who refuse to dismantle Gaza settlements this summer, Israel's defense minister said Tuesday, adding that some 30 soldiers have so far disobeyed orders. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz also told Israel Army Radio he would have preferred not to demolish the homes in the Gaza settlements. However, under an emerging agreement with the Palestinians, army bulldozers would knock down the houses and Israel would pay for the rubble to be removed by the Palestinians, Mofaz said. It remains unclear where the debris will be taken. The Associated Press quoted Mofaz as saying that Israel and Egypt were close to an agreement on how to secure the Gaza-Egypt border after the Israeli pullout. Israel would withdraw from a military patrol road between Gaza's southern edge and Egypt, and the Israeli troops there would be replaced by some 750 Egyptian officers, who would try to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. Israel's Security Cabinet was discussing arrangements for Gaza on Tuesday.
