TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Israeli authorities plan to disarm Israeli residents of the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.

Officials said the police and military have been ordered to seize the weapons of about 10,000 residents of areas prepared for evacuation and withdrawal in July 2005. They said authorities feared that the weapons could be used against Israeli police and soldiers deployed to evict the residents.

Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra said he planned to issue such an order over the next few weeks. Ezra said he discussed the issue with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and that they were told of plans to use army-issued M-16s against Israeli forces.

"One of the parliamentarians close to the settlement council proposed that we collect the weapons before the withdrawal," Ezra said. "The proposal surprised me."