General News - 1st prize
Uriel Sinai
Getty Images
Getty Images
12 July, 2005
Israeli settlers block the road to Shirat Hayam to prevent the arrest of their leader Noam Livnat. In August, Israel brought an end to its 38-year occupation of the Gaza Strip. Under Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan, some 8,500 settlers were withdrawn from land seized during the 1967 Six-Day War. About half the settlers left voluntarily. Those who remained were given until midnight on August 16 before facing forcible eviction by the Israeli army. The hard-liners were joined by supporters from Israel and the West Bank.