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Israeli security officials scuffle with opponents to the disengagement plan, during a protest at the Kissufim crossing to Gush Katif on Sunday. (AP)
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| By israelinsider staff and partners July 18, 2005 |
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Despite a police ban, some 100,000 (according to the Yesha Council's count) anti-disengagement activists are expected to commence thier three-day march from Netivot to the Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip this afternoon. Although police banned the march -- for fear Palestinians will fire at the demonstrators -- some 20,000 police and soldiers will be deployed throughout southern Israel ahead of the demonstration.
Protesters plan to march about 8 kilometers (5 miles) daily until Wednesday when they reach the Gaza Strip, where half intend to continue on to Gush Katif. Some 1,200 buses have been rented to bring the demonstrators to Netivot. But police said the crowd would not be allowed to leave the town of Netivot -- where the march is to begin this afternoon.
Settler leader Bentsi Lieberman condemned the police decision as a violation of democratic rights. He denied marchers would cut through the perimeter fence around the Gaza settlements.
But some pullout opponents -- including a hard-line lawmaker TK Lieberman -- called on marchers to carry wire-cutters with them so they could break into the Gaza settlement bloc of Gush Katif.
"We are planning to carry out this big... march to Gush Katif," Lieberman insisted.
Police banned the march because they don't want protesters to enter the Gaza settlements, and also due to fear Palestinians will fire mortars and rockets at the demonstrators, Avi Zilber, a police spokesman, said.
Security officials presented Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra early Monday with operational plans for preventing the march, Zilber said. Israeli radio reported roadblocks would be set up along the 25-kilometer (16 miles) stretch between Netivot and Gaza.
"It won't be easy," Zilber said of the security forces' goal of stopping the march.
Ezra warned Monday's demonstration could become violent unless organizers prevent the marchers from breaking the law.
"There will be a clash between them (the protesters) and the security forces," Ezra told Israel Radio. "I really hope that things will end in such a way that no one will regret they attended this march."
The army barred nonresidents from entering the Gaza Strip settlements last week, partly to prevent protesters from reaching the area, and partly to protect activists from Palestinian terrorist fire.
Settler leaders organizing the march said their goal was to enter the settlements and remain there until the evacuation in an attempt to sabotage the pullout.
Since the Gaza settlements were isolated, Jewish settlers and other Gaza pullout opponents have been clashing with security forces at the crossing point.
Early Monday, television footage showed settlers clad in orange -- the color symbolizing opposition to the withdrawal -- being dragged, pulled and carried away from the area by police and soldiers.
Israeli Cabinet ministers criticized the pullout opponents, saying they are forcing the army to fight on two fronts: on the one hand the settlers, and on the other Palestinian terrorists who have fired more than 100 mortars and rockets at Israeli targets since last Thursday, killing at least one woman.
"The intention of the settlers is clear: They want to prevent the disengagement... by force," Vice Premier Shimon Peres told Israel Radio.
The AP contributed to this report.
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