'I want to see civil disobedience'

GUSH KATIF - Knesset Member Arieh Eldad (National Union) said during Wednesday’s anti-disengagement demonstration in Gush Katif he wants to see civil disobedience. “If Jews would not be permitted to travel the roads of Israel, no one would,” he said. “Jews do not evacuate Jews in Israel. Without comparing this to the Holocaust, then we said ‘Why was the world silent?’ Now, we are the world.” See exclusive video of demonstration! Eldad, who has marched 220 kilometers (about 137 miles) from the West Bank to Gaza in 13 days in protest of the pullout plan, added, “In this effort we do not have the privilege of losing. A historic injustice is on our shoulders - we are fighting for our homes.” Knesset Member Effie Eitam (Religious Zionism) said during the rally “We call on the people of Israel to prepare their canteens, tents, and shoes, and, in case our brothers would be locked inside the Gush (Katif), get up and come here. About 50,000 people - half as many as organizers are promising - had arrived in Gush Katif by Wednesday for the rally called to protest the upcoming Gaza and northern West Bank pullout. Parents arrived with their children, carrying food and drinks, as well as orange balloons and ribbons, in order to say "no" to settlement evacuation. Settlers deserve a parade At one point, a Qassam rocket landed nearby, near the settlement of Neve Dekalim. An IDF soldier sustained light injuries to his hand and was treated at the scene. 'It's important to be here' Amatsia Yechieli, who brought 25 relatives to Gush Katif, told Ynet the family aims to show its determination to hold on to the settlement bloc. "I believe that one drop and another one will eventually add up to a big sea," he said. "Until today, things worked out in this country only through force. It's time to change direction, and this is also the style of the people here in Gush Katif." Another man present at the scene with his wife and two children said the family arrived to show its solidarity with settlers slated for evacuation. A show of solidarity "I'm not sure whether our presence there will stop the disengagement, but it's important to be here instead of doing nothing," the man said. During the demonstration, Yesha Council Chairman Bentzi Lieberman is expected to present an action plan for fighting the pullout. At the center of the scheme are plans to break the so-called "siege" to be imposed by the IDF on areas slated for evacuation. In addition, the plan aims to work out sleeping arrangements for outsiders planning to come to Gaza once the evacuation date rolls around. A leaflet handed out by settlers read: "Such a blatant plan by the haughty Sharon, the Oslo criminals, and the Arabs for the expulsion of Jewish settlers leads to a deep rift within society and a complete loss of direction." According to the leaflet, Sharon managed to do something that even former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat failed to achieve, namely the uprooting of settlements. "The IDF is already disintegrating before our eyes," the leaflet says. Organizers are hoping for 100,000 protestors Organizers are hoping as many as 100,000 demonstrators would attend the rally. A total of 70 buses are expected to come from Tel Aviv alone. Knesset Members Arieh Eldad, Effi Eitam and Tzvi Hendel are also expected to participate, as well as rabbis and leaders of the Yesha Council. Police say they are ready to protect protesters from possible terrorist attacks, but also warned settlers against “provocations.” “We are set to absorb thousands of visitors, and to let them tour around, demonstrate, and express their strong feelings. We will do everything in our power in order to protect them,” said one IDF source. “But we will not tolerate any lawbreaking or public disturbances,” he said. The source said police are also confident settlement leaders have sent messages protesters to act appropriately. At the same time, the IDF warned about “guests” known to be extremists coming to Gush Katif on Wednesday. “The pressure surrounding the coming disengagement plan could encourage people to do forbidden things,” the army source said. IDF will protect against terror IDF forces are prepared to secure the event in Gush Katif against terror attempts, particularly in light of the Qassam rockets and mortars that have pelted Gaza since the beginning of Pesach on Sunday. Thousands of people have visited Gush Katif during the Pesach holiday to show support for embattled residents, some even spending seder night there. Wednesday’s demonstration is being held under the banner of “We will be there,” meaning the protesters plan to be in Gaza on the day IDF forces arrive to begin the withdrawal.

'I want to see civil disobedience'

Right-wing Knesset Member Arieh Eldad says during anti-disengagement demonstration in Gush Katif we asked why the world was silent during the Holocaust. 'Now, we are the world.'