In a meeting with the army's most senior officers, Sharon emphasised that the army "must make no concessions and demonstrate a firm resolve" in the face of growing calls by opponents of the pullout for soldiers to disobey any commands to implement what they regard as "a forcible transfer of Jews."

"The army is there to carry out the orders it is given," added Sharon at the meeting which was also attended by Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz and army chief of staff Moshe Yaalon.

Sharon however also urged the military to show "sensitivity" during the 12-week evacuation of the 8,000 Gaza settlers which is due to be wrapped up by next September. Four other small Jewish enclaves in the northern West Bank are also due to be dismantled under the premier's so-called disengagement plan.

"We must show sensitivity and understand the pain of the settlers who are good citizens of Israel," he added.

The ultra-nationalist Rempart movement launched a campaign recently to persuade 10,000 soldiers to sign up to a petition pledging to refuse any orders to implement the pullout.

Rabbis representing the settler movement also issued a religious decree in June forbidding the army and police from carrying out the evacuation.

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