IDF braces for pilgrimage to Homesh

IDF forces on Sunday began setting up roadblocks throughout the West Bank as part of an effort to prevent thousands of right-wing activists from journeying to the evacuated settlement of Homesh on Tuesday. A military official said the army would employ a "zero tolerance" policy against violence.

Officials within the security establishment have said that if the activists do indeed attempt to journey to Homesh, the IDF and police would file lawsuits against the organizers demanding millions in monetary reimbursement for the funds spent securing the event.

Over the past two weeks security officials have held a series of meetings regarding the upcoming march to one of the largest settlements evacuated in 2005, no authorization has been given to the event. Security officials also threatened to bring criminal charges against anyone marching to Homesh as they would be in violation of the laws implemented during the disengagement. Several key activists were detained for questioning this past week, but all were released to their homes.

Right-wing organizers have said that they're journeying to Homesh with the intent to stay there. If the army stops them on the way, they said, their group will form an outpost and remain there. The group is also willing to travel through Palestinian villages if necessary, group leaders said.

"Our goal is to switch from defensive behavior to an active struggle for the future of the Jewish people in the land of Israel. We will reach the remains of the community of Homesh and begin to rebuild it with the thousands of bricks we have bought with the hopes of building a synagogue there," said organizers from the "Homesh First" group – which planned the pilgrimage under a banner of 'remember, return, rebuild.'

In the event of arrest activists have been instructed to only say: "This is a political arrest, I will say nothing further." The group has also organized food, water and clothing for a period of 48 hours. Last month thousands held a service in Homesh with the authorization and protection of the IDF.

Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report