'We'll spend night at junction'

Talks between settler leaders, police officials reach dead-end, as anti-pullout protesters face thousands of police officers at junction near southern town of Ofakim. Protest organizers: We are not moving from here

By Efrat Weiss and Ronny Sofer |Last update: 08.04.05 , 02:12

TEL AVIV – Tense face-off in the south: Thousands of pullout objectors planning to head to Gush Katif Wednesday night were stopped by large police forces at the Pduim-Ranan junction, about 2 kilometers (approximately 1.2 miles) West of the southern town of Ofakim.

Settler leaders and police officials engaged in talks in a bid to resolve the impasse, with protesters asking to be allowed to march to Eshkol Park, located about 10 kilometers (approximately 6 miles) West of Ofakim, but the police refused to grant the request.

In response, Yesha Council Chairman Bentzi Lieberman announced protesters would be spending the night at the junction. Earlier, settler leader Pinchas Wallerstein announced: "We are not moving from here," while demanding an urgent meeting with Police Chief Moshe Karadi.

Many protesters at the scene have prepared themselves for sleeping at the junction, on the road and to the side of it. Some of them brought tents, while others chose to use sleeping bags. Other activists, however, turned back to Ofakim and are planning to spend the night at the park where the rally was held earlier in the evening.

Large police and army forces are still prepared for trouble at the junction, while settler leaders continue their talks with police officials.

According to Lieberman, march organizers received a permit from Eshkol Park to sleep there at night, so they could spend Saturday at the park and attempt to continue to Gush Katif on Sunday.

Heading to the fields

While police officials and settler leaders negotiated at the junction, groups of right-wing activists headed into fields in the area in a bid to evade police and reach Gaza, according to information received from a police helicopter.

The marchers were led by rabbis, public figures, and settler leaders. When they arrived at the junction, Rabbi Shlomo Aviner instructed the protesters to sit on the ground. The marchers complied, sat down and began singing.

Earlier, some activists continued marching towards police and began yelling at them, with forces, settler leaders, and rabbis attempting to push the protesters back.

Anti-pullout activists congregated in the southern town of Ofakim for an anti-disengagement rally, before proceeding with their plans to march to Gaza, headed by rabbis, public figures, and settler leaders.

The marchers expected to be confronted by police forces at the exit from Ofakim and from there to split into several groups of varying sizes, with some facing off against police while others attempting to break their way towards Gaza.

17,000 police, soldiers deployed

According to police, about 10,00 people arrived at the Ofakim rally, which ended at about 9:30 p.m., but protest organizers say the figure is more than 20,000. Organizers also charged police prevented more protesters from reaching the rally.

Mounted police forces west of Ofakim (Photo: Ronny Sofer)

Meanwhile, about 17,000 police officers and soldiers have deployed in the region in an attempt to stop marchers from reaching Gush Katif communities. Protesters are expected split into two groups first, with one remaining in Ofakim and the other making its way towards Gaza.

Earlier, the public address system at the Ofakim park where protesters have congregated called on "capable marchers" to sign up for the apparent charge on Gush Katif.

Meanwhile, many Gush Katif residents are planning to head to the Kissufim crossing in an attempt to distract forces and mix in with infiltrators. Many of those hoping to gain entry into the area are expected to remain there until evacuation day rolls around.

The police is deploying in full force, including mounted troops and water cannons, at a roadblock west of Ofakim. At this time there are 16 mounted troops on the scene alongside about 1,500 soldiers and police officers. IDF Southern Command Head Dan Harel and Southern District Police Commander Uri Bar-Lev are in charge of the troops.

Rightists plan charge

Meanwhile, a dramatic scene has unfolded at the pullout objectors' "headquarters," with right-wingers preparing to charge toward Gaza undisturbed. Outsiders, including curious reporters, are asked to cooperate with the settlers and refrain from photographing or reporting what they see. Those who are unwilling to do so, including Ynet reporters, are referred to as "provocateurs" and prevented from accessing the site.

Protesters plan to march from Ofakim to Gaza

Although police officers can be seen everywhere in Ofakim, they have refrained from taking action in the face of preparation for what is an illegal march. Despite the repeated calls over the public address system for marchers to sign up, two senior officers who passed nearby chose to do nothing.

Meanwhile, anti-pullout "team leaders" are pouring over maps as they plan their next moves. The "commanders," who reportedly headed combat units during their IDF service, are supposed to lead dozens of teams Wednesday night in an attempt to break through to Gush Katif.

The team leaders are offering advice to each other regarding the best route to take, locations of police observations and ambushes, and other obstacles such as fences. Some "commanders" were seen marking specific routes on their maps.

Meanwhile, preparations continue in Gush Katif to accommodate the hundreds or thousands of activists who may be able to gain entry into the area. Tent cities have been prepared for the guests, while local residents are planning to leave Gush Katif later in order to lead pullout objectors into the settlement bloc. Nobody seems bothered by the fact the area has been declared a closed military zone by the IDF.

A senior police official told Ynet his forces are aware of settler plans to make their way to Gush Katif and are preparing to thwart the move.

"Large police and army forces, above 15,000, were designated for that end," he said. "Their plans will be foiled."

A senior IDF officer also addressed the situation, saying "tonight the games are over. We won't allow them to continue their efforts to enter Gush Katif. We'll adopt a firm hand against them. We'll stop whoever attempts to enter."

- Anat Brashkovsky, Shmulik Haddad, Ali Waked and Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report