[JURIST] In an effort to counter opponents of this summer's scheduled pullout from the Gaza Strip [JURIST report], the Israeli government Friday banned new settlers from moving into the area. The ban came in the form of an Israeli army order "signed in accordance with the decision made by the political echelon and part of the preparations to implement the government decision to carry out the disengagement plan", according to an IDF statement. Opponents of the plan sponsored by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon [Israel MFA profile] had already started moving to the area with the hope that increased numbers of settlers would make implementation of the plan more difficult. Reuters has more.