Palestinian Minister for Civil Affairs Mohammed Dahlan said on Monday that an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank was faster that expected.

Speaking to reporters, Dahlan, however, warned of a sudden Israeli army withdrawal from the Gaza Strip immediately after demolition of houses.

He said that in order to avoid chaos and vacuum in the area, the Palestinian National Authority worked with Israel for a coordinated withdrawal, in addition to the establishment of eight technical committees.

On Monday, Israeli forces started evacuation of the last settlement of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon expects to evacuate all the 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four smaller ones in northern West Bank in a month period. But the mission might be completed ahead of schedule.

Source: Xinhua