Thousands protest Sharon plan
2004-04-27 16:19
Gush Katif, Gaza Strip - Several thousand Jewish settlers demonstrated on Tuesday in the southern Gaza Strip to protest against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to remove all settlements from the strip.
The marchers carrying Israeli flags demomstrated in the settlement bloc of Gush Katif under tight army surveillance.
The protest coincided with the 56th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel and was aimed at protesting Sharon's so-called "disengagement" plan from the Palestinians.
The package of unilateral measures, which received US President George W Bush's endorsement two weeks ago, includes the removal of all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip.
In a speech in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Sharon described the plan as an opportunity for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
- AFP