For the first time, a visit to the ruins of a Disengagement-destroyed town is sanctioned by the government - and that's precisely what worries some supporters.
The army and police will be on hand Tuesday afternoon and evening to protect thousands of expected Land of Israel loyalists as they march to Homesh in the Shomron. Homesh was one of four Jewish towns in the Shomron region destroyed by the government two years ago during Ariel Sharon's Disengagement/expulsion scheme. Unlike Gaza, the area has not been handed over to Arab control, and former residents and current supporters of Homesh have made clear their intentions to resettle it.
Tuesday's event was initiated by Rabbi Chaim Druckman, the head of the religious-Zionist Yeshivot Bnei Akiva movement. He spoke with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and received permission for the ascent - with the clear condition that those who make the trek do not try to remain there past nightfall. The IDF spokesman said the IDF will not allow anyone to seize or resettle any of the territory of the former town.
This arrangement ostensibly follows the pattern of early settlement in Judea and Samaria (Yesha). In the 1970's, determined groups of pioneers made attempt after attempt to settle the region, until finally the government ceded slightly - leading later to full-fledged communities. Today's march will set out, symbolically, from the old Sebastia train station - where, in July 1974, thousands of people took part in a milestone five-day-long settlement effort that led to the founding of Elon Moreh.
In the current case of Homesh, as well, supporters have made several attempts to re-settle the site, with little success, but the pressure is perceived as having led to the government's consent to Tuesday's event.
The Yesha Council organizers say they see the event as a preparation for another planned ascent to the site next month, after which families plan to remain at the site. Council spokesman Yishai Hollander clarified to Arutz-7, however, that next month's attempt is not a Yesha Council event, but rather one organized by the group that arranged the previous ascents, known as "Homesh First."
This clarification is an allusion to tensions reigning between the two groups. "Homesh First" organizer Boaz HaEtzni explained to Arutz-7 that he sees no potential in events, such as Tuesday's, that are organized by the Yesha Council. "The Council has shown in the past that it is not interested in winning," HaEtzni said. "When the government gives you a permit, this means that you also have to leave when they say so. Our goal is not just to go and visit Homesh every once in a while. We want to remain there. The only way to achieve this goal is not by working together with the government, but by clashing with it; the government won't give you anything unless you clash with it."
HaEtzni said he knows that there are many who plan to participate in the Tuesday march, but will then try to remain there - hopefully, he says, at the expense of a clash with soldiers.
The police have announced that they will begin an investigation into the organizers of some of the Homesh marches - prompting MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) to complain of "selective law enforcement." "Why are the organizers of the weekly left-wing protests at Bil'in not being investigated?" Eldad asked. The anti-partition wall protests at Bil'in often turn violent.
Many religious high schools throughout the country will take part in the Tuesday event - prompting Education Minister Yuli Tamir, an early Peace Now member, to investigate whether illegal political use is being made of school education. Left-wing complaints have also been heard regarding the army's dedication of four battalions to protect the marchers.
The participants plan to bring new street signs, bearing the original names of the streets, and affix them there. They will also bring shovels, hoes, rakes and brooms in an attempt to begin to restore the once-beautiful town to something similar to its original state.
Several youths who made an early attempt to arrive at the site last night were arrested. They allegedly attempted to paint the Homesh water tower orange, the color of the anti-Disengagement struggle.