Palestinian leaders call for stop to looting in evacuated Gaza Strip News
Palestinian leaders call for stop to looting in evacuated Gaza Strip

[JURIST] Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas [official profile] and other leaders Tuesday called on Palestinians to halt looting [Reuters report] and restore order following Israel's withdrawal [JURIST report] earlier this week from the formerly occupied Gaza Strip [Wikipedia backgrounder]. Celebrations and disorder spread swiftly after Israeli forces pulled out Monday. Abbas, calling the withdrawal an "historic opportunity," said that it was imperative for Gaza to begin rebuilding efforts immediately, as the world was watching and it would serve as a test for future statehood for Palestinians. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie appeared at Neve Dekalim, previously the largest Israeli settlement in the territory, and called on residents there to halt looting. After initial inaction, Palestinian security forces have now begun to control movement along the border with Egypt and have stepped in to halt the ransacking of abandoned synagogues. From Israel, Haaretz has local coverage of the withdrawal. Reuters has more.