Blocked roads open for traffic

JERUSALEM - (Video) At around 6:40 p.m. Traffic Police officials reported that all roads blocked by anti-pullout activists have been reopened for traffic. Eighty-six right-wing activists were arrested and 17 others were taken in for questioning for suspicion of disturbing the peace during anti-pullout protests held across the country. Earlier, dozens of right-wing activists blocked the entrance to Jerusalem by sitting in the middle of the road leading to the capital’s entrance. Police forces dispersed the protesters with the help of water hoses. See video of road-blocking protests: The Ayalon Highway in central Israel was blocked in both directions several irate drivers got out of their cars and physically attacked the protesters. Police forces have directed traffic to alternate roads. In several other incidents: Right-wing activists threw stones at police in Jerusalem. There were no reported injuries. Hundreds of youth blocked the Tel Aviv Ayalon Highway and resisted police efforts to clear them. The protesters chanted: “soldier, policeman, disobey your orders,” and claimed that security forces used violence against them. In addition, the protesters threw marbles at the highway lanes, and mounted police have been dispatched to the area. The entrance to Haifa was closed to traffic by right-wing activists, before being reopened by police a few minutes later. Some of the demonstrators have been arrested. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said during a political-security cabinet meeting called ahead of a mass anti-pullout road blocking protest, "We will not allow a bunch of gangs to bring down the country." He told ministers sanctions should be imposed against rabbis who send children to block intersections and junctions. During the session, Police Chief Moshe Karadi warned the protests “are not a one-time thing.” Interior Minister Ophir-Pines Paz called for administrative detentions of road blockers and protest organizers. “Police must deter the criminals and not the citizens, and instead of calling on people to stay home adopt a heavy hand against the law-breakers,” he said. 'Almost a terror act' The protest apparently started early, after an eastbound lane on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway was blocked to traffic after anti-pullout activists poured oil and placed spikes on the road, police said. The tires of at least 20 cars were punctured as a result of the protest. Police said only a miracle prevented a tragedy, as the cars whose tires were punctured were traveling at high speed. Meanwhile, Knesset Constitution Committee Chairman Michael Eitan (Likud) slammed the actions of anti-pullout activists. “Placing (nails) and escaping is a cowardly act that has nothing to do with the democratic right to protest,” he said. “This is closer to a terror act than to legitimate protest.” Eitan called on police to act against the perpetrators and also called on pullout objectors to condemn the act. Right-wing group slams highway spike protest The “National Home” right-wing group associated with the anti-pullout road blocking campaign harshly condemned placing spikes on the highway. “We are talking about a provocation that endangers human life and contradicts the civil disobedience principle whose essence is non-violence,” the group said. The plan to block the country's major intersections was originally scheduled for last week, but the deadly train crash near Kibbutz Revadim delayed it. Police Chief Lt. Gen. Moshe Karadi compared road blockings to the peaceful demonstrations organized by the Yesha settler council. "Yesterday, there was event in which the participants respected public order tomorrow, it's the intention of the 'National Home' to block 'all the intersections.' Israel Police will not allow such a gross violation of the law," said Karadi. On Wednesday, they are set to meet with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz in his Jerusalem office. They have said they intend to provide examples of "outrageous behavior" by law enforcement officers against anti-disengagement activists. -Efrat Weiss and Eli Senyor also contributed to the story -Video footage by Yaron Brenner