Activists block roads
צילום: ירון ברנר
Highway blocked in protest of outpost evacuations
Police arrest 17 right-wing activists for blocking Highway 4 in protest of expected dismantling of illegal West Bank outposts; forces arrived quickly due to prior intelligence, police believe campaign just beginning
Some 17 protesters blocked Highway 4 near Ramat Gan and burned tires in protest over the expected evacuation of outposts in the West Bank.
Earlier, Chief of Staff Dan Halutz announced that the Amona and surrounding outposts will be cleared in a similar manner in which the disengagement from Gaza took place last summer.
With the latest highway protest, rightist activists returned to their Gaza disengagement strategy.
Protester arrested (Photo: Yaron Brenner)
Disengagement opponents routinely blocked traffic arteries, burning tires and carrying signs protesting the withdrawal in an attempt to swing public opinion against the clearance of settlements in Gaza and northern Samaria.
On Tuesday morning, the police received intelligence about attempts to block the road by right-wing activists.
Police forces were therefore ready since the afternoon, and the intelligence was proved correct, after a number of civilians reported tire burnings on Highway 4 to the police.
Police forces were immediately dispatched to the area, and began arresting demonstrators before dispersing tires from the road in an effort to allow traffic to resume.
Demonstrators succeeded in blocking the road for only a few minutes.
Police are continuing to arrest activists in the area, and ultra-Orthodox residents of nearby Bnei Brak came to identify with the protesters.
Police believe that youths will continue to try and protest by blocking roads as the date for clearing the outposts approaches.
