U.S. Jews to protest withdrawal

Opponents of disengagement from Gaza are hoping for a turnout of more than 40,000 American Jews at an anti-disengagement protest in New York's Central Park on Sunday. Knesset Member Effi Eitam, former National Religious Party leader, and Likud rebel Uzi Landau are expected to address the crowd, together with the heads of several Jewish organizations, local politicians, and leading rabbis. In addition, representatives of Gush Katif, including teenagers, are slated to perform on the program. Second anti-government protest The demonstration was organized by a joint committee made up more than 20 Jewish organizations, including Young Israel, Zionist Organization of America, Rabbinic Council of America and Chabad. The rally is slated to follow the annual Salute to Israel Parade on nearby Fifth Avenue. The parade annually draws hundreds of thousands of attendees. It is only the second time major Jewish groups in the U.S. have demonstrated against a sitting Israeli government. The first time was in protest of the Oslo Accords, at which the main speaker was current Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. No quid pro quo Joseph Prager, one of the organizers, said the gathering would "tell the entire world we will not be silent when the Israeli government is planning to evict thousands of Jews from parts of Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel)." Eitam said American Jews must worry when there is a threat to the security of Israelis. "They must worry about ceding land to an enemy, with no quid pro quo at all," he said. Eitam also said U.S. Jews don't understand how, in a democratic country, a prime minister who was elected specifically because of his opposition to "unilateral disengagement" can then threaten and bribe his way to passing exactly such a program. "Sharon, who tried to enlist American Jews to support the disengagement, will find learn on Sunday that he has failed miserably," he said. Sharon received a warm welcome and support for disengagement from 5,000 members of pro-Israel lobby American Israel Public Affairs Committee at the group's annual conference in Washington last week.

U.S. Jews to protest withdrawal

40,000 expected at Central Park Rally; Knesset Members Effi Eitam, Uzi Landau expected to address crowd