Police prepare for right-wing protest
Two anti-pullout activists arrested during police raid on organization's offices; alert level raised in preparation for Monday's protest in Tel Aviv area
The group hosted a convention in Jerusalem last week where activists threatened to shut down the entire Tel Aviv area on Monday in protest of the planned pullout from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
The police raid is part of a list of preventative
measures taken by the government following last week's incident, when police failed to prevent protesters from setting fire to tires in the city of Bnei Brak, blocking main traffic arteries.
All police districts have received orders to increase operations and to act in response to each local situation.
In addition, police will be deployed to central intersections, ready to carry out arrests.
'Police operate like Bolsheviks'
Following the raid, police found platform speeches, stickers and posters saying "the intersection will be closed soon."
Both activists were arrested taken
in for questioning.
"Israel has turned into a calculated police force," one associate close to the activists said. "The police operate like Bolsheviks."
Meanwhile, protesters have also attempted to recruit the ultra-Orthodox community to join in the fight against the Gaza pullout plan.
Notices have been posted in religious Jerusalem neighborhoods calling for the community to join in the public protest, something the ultra-Orthodox have refrained from doing until now.
However, they are expected to demonstrate in Jerusalem on Thursday.
