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Anti-Disengagement protestors clash with Police. (AP/File)
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07/29
Ynetnews |
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07/31
Haaretz |
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| By israelinsider staff and partners July 31, 2005 |
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After the PM's office passed the buck onto police to take responsibility for deciding how to proceed with Tuesday's intended anti-disengagement rally in Sderot, and marches from Ofakim, and Netivot to Gush Katif, police -- who already declared the demonstrations illegal -- threatened to be "more determined than sensitive" in dealing with protestors. 15,000 IDF soldiers will join thousands of police to prevent the activists from entering the Gaza Strip. The Yesha Coucil said settler supporters intend to march on to Gush Katif.
But not if police have anything to do with it.
Education Minister Limor Livnat, at Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting suggested that the cabinet allow the anti-pullout march -- with simultaneous rallies scheduled to take place before-hand in Sderot, Ofakim, and Netivot -- and sources in the Prime Minister's Office responded that the question must be directed at police and the judicial system, and did not necessitate government approval.
Police have made their position clear. The police's southern district informed the Yesha Council categorically that marchers would not be allowed to advance on the Kissufim checkpoint. Police are threatening to be "more determined than sensitive."
"We won't let them reach Kissufim even if that means employing force, mounted police, water canons and any other means. They won't reach Gush Katif," senior officers vowed.
Thousands of police have already begun deploying to stop the protesters from marching to Gush Katif.
In addition, the IDF will place more than 15,000 soldiers at the police's disposal. The army says that its camp near Kibbutz Reim has reached its maximum capacity in order to provide police with reserves if needed. Furthermore, some disengagement training has been curtailed to prepare for the protest rally. The headquarters of Division 340, assigned to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip, was to wrap up its training Sunday, three days early. Some of the troops were to be dispatched to the western Negev, along with forces from basic training camps, courses and even rear-guard units.
Security forces plan to stop protesters tens of kilometers from Kissufim. A series of checkpoints set up in the area since it was declared a closed military zone will be expanded, and security tightened.
Patrols of western Negev fields will be increased to locate activists intent on infiltrating Gush Katif. Last week, IDF bulldozers dug ditches in the Kissufim area to prevent all-terrain vehicles from circumventing the checkpoints.
Despite Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra's statement on Sunday, that it is possible for police and Yesha Council leaders to reach an agreement according to which the former will allow disengagement opponents to protest in Sderot if they waive their demand to march to Gush Katif, Yesha Council leaders said its plans for the Sderot rally will not change.
"The decision of the Sharon family adviser not to allow demonstrators to reach Sderot next week constitutes another crack in the crumbling wall of Israeli democracy," read a Yesha Council statement issued Friday. "Those entrusted with safeguarding the public from the regime -- the attorney general and the police commissioner -- have become servants of the dictatorial regime against the swelling people's protest. The Yesha Council has no doubt that Sharon and his emissaries will soon reach a point of arresting people for thoughts not in keeping with the ruler's opinion."
The settler leaders emphasized Saturday that the objective is to stage a non-violent, yet effective protest akin to the one at Kfar Maimon two weeks ago, with one goal being to pin down large contingents of security forces before the disengagement to hamper the evacuation of Gush Katif.
Last week, police said they may block buses and cars, and set up roadblocks that would effectively impose a closure on Israel's entire southern region. The Yesha Council slammed the police and the government, calling the suggestion "another crack in the wall of democracy".
In addition, the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel announced it will petition the High Court of Justice if a decision is made to stop the buses.
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