Tens of thousands of protestors opposed to the expulsion of Jews from Gaza and northern Shomron packed downtown Jerusalem last night, calling upon Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to either back down from his plan or to hold new elections.
"Tonight we won't be hearing from politicians," announced the master of ceremonies Chisdai Eliezer, the Mayor of Alfei Menashe. "Tonight we will be hearing from people just like you and me, who are being threatened with expulsion from their homes and everything they have built. "
The demonstration centered in Zion Square, but large movie screens enabled supporters who flooded Jerusalem's streets from across the country to see and hear what was going on.
Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky, the Chief Rabbi of Gaza, opened the event with a reminder to the tens of thousands of participants that there is a higher authority. "We have embarked on a struggle to win the hearts of the nation and to oppose the plan to withdraw from Gush Katif," he said, " and we must devote 100% of our efforts to averting the expulsion. But we must remember that there is One who is in charge of this world, and we are merely striving to help Him help us. "
Raising his voice and looking skyward, the rabbi ended by quoting a verse from Psalms 28: " Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; tend them and sustain them forever."
Noam Namir, a young girl from the threatened community of N'vei Dekalim, elicited prolonged cheers and applause when she addressed Prime Minister Sharon: "How could you threaten to throw me out of my home in Israel, after my grandmother was expelled from her home in Poland, my grandfather was thrown out of Spain, and my father was exiled from the Sinai town of Yamit? I don't know how any Jewish soldier or police officer could bring themselves to throw my family and me out of our house! How will they be able to listen to such an order? "
Former MK Rabbi Chanan Porat followed the 12-year-old Gush Katif resident, telling the crowd: " Noam Namir will overcome the Prime Minister!" Porat then read a prayer on behalf of the Jews of Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
Media coverage of the event concentrated on the incitement aspects. Voice of Israel reporter Guy Kotev did not quote the above speakers, but rather repeated several times - including in pre-demonstration coverage earlier in the day - that the Yesha Council's strategy was to talk about "love for Israel" while at the same time not avoiding "scare tactics." Kotev said, "They're going both ways with full gas. They talk about love, but they also know that they have to play the 'village crazy' in order to make sure people know that this won't go down easily."
Many speakers called on Prime Minister Sharon to return his electoral mandate and declare new elections, and called upon the National Religious Party to quit the coalition immediately.
Many protestors held banners reading,"Disengagement tears the nation apart " and, " The Sharon government - a government of destruction." A handful of signs referred to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's refusal to heed the voices of his own party members, calling the Prime Minister a dictator. Similarly-styled placards bore pictures of Yonatan Bassi, who heads the Disengagement Administration, with the words, "Head of the expulsion authority - we will not forgive." Yesha Council-appointed ushers made sure to remove these signs. They were unable to prevent, however, the dissemination of hundreds of copies of a letter calling for a "change in tactics" and emphasizing that, as opposed to the Yesha Council motto that "Love Will Win Out," love alone will actually not win out, and that tough measures must be employed.
All streets leading to Zion Square were packed with people as far as the eye could see, and Yesha Council spokesman Yehoshua Mor-Yosef released an estimate of 70,000 protestors present at the event. The rally was advertised far less than previous rallies. From Zion Square, the throngs of protestors lit torches and marched down the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall, along King George Street, and toward the Prime Minister's residence.
Avner Shimoni, head of the Gaza Coast Regional Authority, expressed satisfaction with the turnout, saying, "We saw many people who do not usually show up at these events." He said that there is no alternative other than to hold new elections: "Even if we lose, I will continue to fight for my house, but at least the nation won't be split. Sharon was elected on one agenda, and then suddenly changed his mind. He must therefore call new elections, and let the people decide." Shimoni said he would also support a national referendum on the issue, "on condition that it be determined by a special majority of 60%."
"Tonight we won't be hearing from politicians," announced the master of ceremonies Chisdai Eliezer, the Mayor of Alfei Menashe. "Tonight we will be hearing from people just like you and me, who are being threatened with expulsion from their homes and everything they have built. "
The demonstration centered in Zion Square, but large movie screens enabled supporters who flooded Jerusalem's streets from across the country to see and hear what was going on.
Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky, the Chief Rabbi of Gaza, opened the event with a reminder to the tens of thousands of participants that there is a higher authority. "We have embarked on a struggle to win the hearts of the nation and to oppose the plan to withdraw from Gush Katif," he said, " and we must devote 100% of our efforts to averting the expulsion. But we must remember that there is One who is in charge of this world, and we are merely striving to help Him help us. "
Raising his voice and looking skyward, the rabbi ended by quoting a verse from Psalms 28: " Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; tend them and sustain them forever."
Noam Namir, a young girl from the threatened community of N'vei Dekalim, elicited prolonged cheers and applause when she addressed Prime Minister Sharon: "How could you threaten to throw me out of my home in Israel, after my grandmother was expelled from her home in Poland, my grandfather was thrown out of Spain, and my father was exiled from the Sinai town of Yamit? I don't know how any Jewish soldier or police officer could bring themselves to throw my family and me out of our house! How will they be able to listen to such an order? "
Former MK Rabbi Chanan Porat followed the 12-year-old Gush Katif resident, telling the crowd: " Noam Namir will overcome the Prime Minister!" Porat then read a prayer on behalf of the Jews of Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
Media coverage of the event concentrated on the incitement aspects. Voice of Israel reporter Guy Kotev did not quote the above speakers, but rather repeated several times - including in pre-demonstration coverage earlier in the day - that the Yesha Council's strategy was to talk about "love for Israel" while at the same time not avoiding "scare tactics." Kotev said, "They're going both ways with full gas. They talk about love, but they also know that they have to play the 'village crazy' in order to make sure people know that this won't go down easily."
Many speakers called on Prime Minister Sharon to return his electoral mandate and declare new elections, and called upon the National Religious Party to quit the coalition immediately.
Many protestors held banners reading,"Disengagement tears the nation apart " and, " The Sharon government - a government of destruction." A handful of signs referred to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's refusal to heed the voices of his own party members, calling the Prime Minister a dictator. Similarly-styled placards bore pictures of Yonatan Bassi, who heads the Disengagement Administration, with the words, "Head of the expulsion authority - we will not forgive." Yesha Council-appointed ushers made sure to remove these signs. They were unable to prevent, however, the dissemination of hundreds of copies of a letter calling for a "change in tactics" and emphasizing that, as opposed to the Yesha Council motto that "Love Will Win Out," love alone will actually not win out, and that tough measures must be employed.
All streets leading to Zion Square were packed with people as far as the eye could see, and Yesha Council spokesman Yehoshua Mor-Yosef released an estimate of 70,000 protestors present at the event. The rally was advertised far less than previous rallies. From Zion Square, the throngs of protestors lit torches and marched down the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall, along King George Street, and toward the Prime Minister's residence.
Avner Shimoni, head of the Gaza Coast Regional Authority, expressed satisfaction with the turnout, saying, "We saw many people who do not usually show up at these events." He said that there is no alternative other than to hold new elections: "Even if we lose, I will continue to fight for my house, but at least the nation won't be split. Sharon was elected on one agenda, and then suddenly changed his mind. He must therefore call new elections, and let the people decide." Shimoni said he would also support a national referendum on the issue, "on condition that it be determined by a special majority of 60%."