The campaign against the one-sided withdrawal from Gaza and northern Samaria, involving the expulsion of close to 8,500 men, women and children from their homes, is stepping into high gear.
Next week has been designated "Orange Week," denoting Gush Katif's unofficial color and that which has symbolized the struggle against the disengagement plan. The T-shirts and hats worn by many of the over 100,000 people in the Human Chain two months ago were orange, for instance. The activists plan to paint the country orange, with cars sporting orange flags, apartment building porches filled with orange banners, hundreds of thousands of orange stickers, shirts, and more. The material will be sold at hundreds of intersections and city centers around the country.
Orange Week will reach a crescendo on Thursday, with 100 simultaneous rallies in 100 cities, and anti-disengagement vigils in 1,000 intersections. People at the intersections will then march with torches towards the nearest city to join the rallies. The central event will take place in Paris Square in Jerusalem, in close proximity to Prime Minister Sharon's official residence, where a giant screen will display live pictures of the other rallies around the country. Knesset Members and other public figures will be in attendance at many of the demonstrations.
The entire colossal project is being organized by the Gush Katif Communities Council in N'vei Dekalim, with the close cooperation of 100 task forces in the various cities. Also participating is the "Engagement Administration," incorporating the Yesha Council, the Samaria Team, and Mateh Maamatz.
The residents and organizers are optimistic, buoyed by their recent successes in the Human Chain, the Likud Party referendum against the withdrawal/expulsion, and the lack of response to the government's offer to provide them with advance compensation payments.
The cheerful and upbeat tone of the efforts is accompanied by another side as well. The Yesha Council has begun placing billboards in cities such as Hadera and Netanya, proclaiming, "The Kassam is on its Way," and noting the short distance between the city and the northern Shomron.
Next week has been designated "Orange Week," denoting Gush Katif's unofficial color and that which has symbolized the struggle against the disengagement plan. The T-shirts and hats worn by many of the over 100,000 people in the Human Chain two months ago were orange, for instance. The activists plan to paint the country orange, with cars sporting orange flags, apartment building porches filled with orange banners, hundreds of thousands of orange stickers, shirts, and more. The material will be sold at hundreds of intersections and city centers around the country.
Orange Week will reach a crescendo on Thursday, with 100 simultaneous rallies in 100 cities, and anti-disengagement vigils in 1,000 intersections. People at the intersections will then march with torches towards the nearest city to join the rallies. The central event will take place in Paris Square in Jerusalem, in close proximity to Prime Minister Sharon's official residence, where a giant screen will display live pictures of the other rallies around the country. Knesset Members and other public figures will be in attendance at many of the demonstrations.
The entire colossal project is being organized by the Gush Katif Communities Council in N'vei Dekalim, with the close cooperation of 100 task forces in the various cities. Also participating is the "Engagement Administration," incorporating the Yesha Council, the Samaria Team, and Mateh Maamatz.
The residents and organizers are optimistic, buoyed by their recent successes in the Human Chain, the Likud Party referendum against the withdrawal/expulsion, and the lack of response to the government's offer to provide them with advance compensation payments.
The cheerful and upbeat tone of the efforts is accompanied by another side as well. The Yesha Council has begun placing billboards in cities such as Hadera and Netanya, proclaiming, "The Kassam is on its Way," and noting the short distance between the city and the northern Shomron.