Left-wing writer Meir Shalev took a swipe at residents of Judea and Samaria during his speech at the massive Thursday night rally calling on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign.

"When the army is busy with roadblocks and arrests [in Judea and Samaria] and guarding illegal outposts, that is how a war looks, a war without a first warning, Shalev stated. "But thanks to the war, we see what 40 years of occupation has done."

The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria (Yesha) responded, "It is very sad that a man like Meir Shalev, who calls himself an intellectual, is not capable for even one night to overcome his hate of settlers" who have sacrificed their lives to defend Israel."