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Ami Ayalon, organizer of dismally unsuccessful pro-pullout rally: "If you count the people we passed by, there were thousands."
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07/31
IsraelNationalNews.com |
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners July 31, 2005 |
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The weeklong "Leaving Gaza -- Returning to Zionism" blue-and-white, pro-disengagement campaign ended with a whimper today. Although the caravan rally had been widely publicized, and although government polls consistently claim that the majority of Israelis support the Disengagement Plan, the culminating demonstration attracted only "tens" of participants last week.
Tens of Israelis launched a cross-country rally last Sunday to drum up support for next month's Gaza Strip withdrawal and counter big protests by rightists opposed to the plan.
Former Shabak (General Security Sevice) head Ami Ayalon, organizer of the weeklong "Leaving Gaza -- Returning to Zionism" event -- which was supposed to have featured a convoy of vehicles traveling across Israel, stopping in Israeli towns to gather supporters, and culminating with a large rally in Jerusalem's Zion Square -- said it aimed to "shake up the silent majority that supports the pullout plan, rather than leaving the streets to the disengagement opponents.
"It is high time Israelis realize that leaving Gaza has to be just the first step toward an accord with the Palestinians and realizing our dream of being a democratic Jewish homeland," he added.
According to a report from Reuters, even an aide to Sharon encouraged the protest. "It's about time someone showed that orange isn't the only color on the street," he said.
But the event's somewhat pathetic turnout didn't stir up much of anything. According to left-leaning Hebrew daily Yediot Aharonot, just "tens" of protesters attended the culmination rally in Jerusalem.
Even Ayalon was forced to admit that at its height, the convoy supporting the government's withdrawal/expulsion plan was embarrassingly small. Questioned by Israel Radio, Ayalon admitted that a maximum of 70 cars -- "and at times fewer" -- participated in campaign. "If you count the people we passed by, there were thousands," he said.
Ayalon, who founded a group to promote Israeli-Palestinian coexistence that claims 400,000 supporters on both sides, countered the move last month by distributing ribbons in blue and white, the national colors.
The event cast a shadow of doubt upon government-issued poll results, which have consistently shown most Israelis back Sharon's vision of disengagement.
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