Many settlers resist leaving Gaza & West Bank (4min)

As the August 17th deadline for Israeli settlers to leave Gaza and parts of the West Bank approaches, Israel has become more polarized and tensions are running high as some settlers have vowed not to leave. In the first of two reports, Jeff Swicord looks at the resistance to the withdrawal from Gaza.

Mid-July on a farm in the Negev region of southern Israel: nearly 20,000 demonstrators gather under the hot sun. Their plan is to march to Gush Katiff, one of the Gaza settlements Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wants to give back to the Palestinians in mid-August.

Although polls indicate a majority of Israelis support the Gaza withdrawal, the action has angered large segments of Israeli society and emotions are running high.

Some of the settlers say they will not leave, even if they face being forcibly removed. Many feel their basic human rights are being violated. And some have even gone as far as to use the term "ethnic cleansing."

Recently Israeli troops began practicing forced removal of settlers from their homes. Up to 50,000 troops and police will be involved in the operation, with 14,000 directly involved in removal.