The IDF´s plan to uproot Jews from Gush Katif and northern Shomron is codenamed "Brotherly Dwelling" – and Yesha supporters want to know if that is the army´s idea of a bad joke at their expense.

At yesterday´s session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, several MKs made clear their dissatisfaction with the choice of codename to Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz.

MKs Effie Eitam and Uri Ariel said that to give such a codename to an operation for the uprooting of thousands of Jews from their homes is "the epitome of cynicism." They said that though the name implies national unity, the operation itself is something that tears the nation apart.

Opposition head MK Tommy Lapid (Shinui), too, said that the codename is not appropriate.

Gen. Halutz and another IDF representative at the session, Planning Division Deputy Head Brig.-Gen. Ophir Shoham, said that the name was randomly chosen by a computer.

However, an investigation by Yediot Acharonot reporters has found that this claim is not correct, and that the name was in fact chosen by senior IDF commanders. The rationale was that despite the mission, "we are all one nation and all brothers."

The original name for the operation was "Zohar HaRakia," meaning Splendor of the Sky. This name was roundly criticized, as it is taken from the E-l Malei Rahamim prayer said in memory of the deceased. (IsraelNationalNews © 02/01/05)