Gazans celebrate, take over former settlements

Rafah border crossing closed
No people crossed through the main Rafah border crossing point, which Israel has closed indefinitely. Instead, people went around it.

The Palestinians are demanding the crossing be opened, saying it is the main gateway for Gaza's 1.3 million Palestinians to the outside world. Egypt is trying to negotiate a deal, and Israel has said it might agree to allow European monitors to man it.

Palestinians hope to build their state in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem — areas that Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War — but fear that Israel will not hand over more territory. They say Israel still occupies Gaza because it retains control over borders and airspace.

The Palestinians want full control over the Gaza-Egypt border, saying free movement of people and goods is essential for rebuilding Gaza's shattered economy. Israel wants to retain some control, at least temporarily, fearing that militants will smuggle weapons into Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said he remains committed to the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan, which calls for an independent Palestinian state, but linked any further withdrawals to Abbas' ability to rein in militant groups.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz urged the Palestinian to impose law and order or face a tough response.

Rebuilding Gaza's ruined economy
Abbas insists he can persuade militants to disarm peacefully. He has outlined an ambitious plan to reconstruct Gaza's shattered economy, an effort he believes will bolster forces of moderation. But he faces a difficult task in Gaza, where militants and armed gangs operate freely and wield considerable power.

Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader in Gaza, said the group "will support any step that will produce something for our people" but made clear it has no plans to disarm as long as Israel controls the West Bank and Jerusalem.

"We should protect the resistance option and the resistance weapons," he said. "These weapons liberated the land and by these weapons, we will continue the liberation process."

Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, head of Israel's southern command, said the pullout presented an important opportunity for the Palestinians to control their future.

"The responsibility belongs to the Palestinian Authority," he said. "We hope that they will know how to rise to the responsibility, and enable all of us to leave in peace and security."

Palestinian authorities had promised an orderly transition, but the calls were ignored. Police stood by helplessly as gunmen raised flags of militant groups and crowds smashed what was left in the ruins or walked off with doors, window frames, toilets and scrap metals.

Empty synagogues destroyed
Palestinians torched empty synagogues in the Morag, Kfar Darom and Netzarim settlements, as well as a Jewish seminary in Neve Dekalim. Later, a Palestinian bulldozer knocked down the walls of the Netzarim synagogue.

In Netzarim, two young Palestinians waving flags stomped on the smoldering debris outside the synagogue, and others took turns hitting the building with a large hammer.

"They (Israelis) destroyed our homes and our mosques. Today it is our turn to destroy theirs," said a man in Neve Dekalim who gave his name only as Abu Ahmed.

Israel removed some 8,500 Gaza settlers from their homes in 21 settlements last month, and razed homes and most buildings in the communities. However, the Israeli Cabinet decided Sunday to leave 19 synagogue buildings intact, drawing complaints from the Palestinians and criticism from the United States.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the Israeli decision "puts the Palestinian Authority into a situation where it may be criticized for whatever it does."

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