Thousands protest Gaza pullout

2005-01-30 21:19

Jerusalem - Having all but lost the political battle, more than 100 000 demonstrators gathered in Jerusalem on Sunday to protest Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to evacuate all 21 Jewish settlements from Gaza and four from the West Bank, demanding it be put to a national referendum.

Israel TV estimated that an hour after the demonstration began, 130 000 people were gathered across from the parliament and government buildings.

The demonstrators' demand reflects a growing recognition by Jewish settlers and their allies that barring a last minute delay, Sharon has the political muscle to push the Gaza plan through. In all 8 500 settlers stand to be displaced in the operation, set for the summer.

Demonstrators called on Sharon to accept the referendum as a way of preserving Israeli unity.

"When an Israeli government wants to pass such a difficult process, involving the expulsion of people from their homes, it can't do this in a fearful and capricious way, but should carry it out in a true democratic fashion so that it will might be acceptable," said Bentsi Lieberman, head of the West Bank and Gaza Settlers Council.

Israel TV reported the council organised more than 1 000 buses to bring demonstrators to Jerusalem, emptying out entire settlements in the West Bank.

The demonstration, which began in the early evening, was to last 24 hours, until after sunset Monday. Many of the demonstrators were expected to sleep in the park and carry the protest to nearby government buildings in the morning.

Settler leader Pinhas Wallerstein said the highlight of the gathering would be a mass pledge to go to Gaza to prevent the evacuation.

The Gaza pullout and exit from part of the West Bank would mark the first time an Israeli government had ever removed veteran settlements from those territories, claimed by the Palestinians for a state.

Sharon has said the "disengagement" would strengthen Israel's hold on areas of the West Bank where most of the settlers live, but settler leaders warn that once Israel begins removing settlements, international pressure will force Israel to take down the rest of them.

Political developments seem to be working the disengagement opponents.

Earlier this month the left leaning Labour Party entered Sharon's fragile coalition government, greatly enhancing its stability.

And on Sunday, a powerful religious party indicated it would not oppose the passage of the budget bill in March - effectively guaranteeing the government's survival for the time it needs to implement the disengagement program.

Public opinion polls show more than 60% of Israelis support Sharon's pullout plan. However, settler leaders say they are confident they could defeat the plan in a referendum.

- AP