In response to the Disengagement Authority recently established to help relocate Jews slated to be expelled from their homes in the framework of Sharon’s Gaza pullout plan, a new movement – the “Engagement Authority” -
will hold its founding meeting Sunday in Ramat Gan's Kfar Maccabiah Convention Center, near Tel Aviv.
“This will be a forum to lead the struggle against the Disengagement Plan,” said Adi Mintz, who is head of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha). “The movement will include organizations and leaders from throughout the country, as well as from Yesha,” he added.
“We are geared up for the long run since we probably are headed for a referendum or new national elections,” said Mintz. He emphasized that despite Sharon’s probable majority vote for his plan in the Knesset on Tuesday, the plan has no national legitimacy.
The “Engagement Authority” will include Moshe Arens, former ambassador to the United Nations and defense minister, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, who is widely respected throughout the religious and secular community, Rabbi Chanan Porat of Gush Etzion and other academic and political figures. Both Rabbis Druckman and Porat are former National Religious Party Knesset members.
“Whoever is prepared to work within our guiding principles is welcome to join and work under this umbrella organization,” said Mintz.
The “Engagement Authority” will stage more events like the human chain and the simultaneous demonstrations in 100 cities, both of which drew more than 100,000 people. The new organization will give a wider national consensus to the pro-Yesha movement and refute the myth that Yesha supporters are an isolated group.
Labor party members, most of the media and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s disengagement lobby have accused pro-Yesha elements as being a tiny minority, despite the Likud party’s crushing rejection of the plan in its own referendum this summer.
will hold its founding meeting Sunday in Ramat Gan's Kfar Maccabiah Convention Center, near Tel Aviv.
“This will be a forum to lead the struggle against the Disengagement Plan,” said Adi Mintz, who is head of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha). “The movement will include organizations and leaders from throughout the country, as well as from Yesha,” he added.
“We are geared up for the long run since we probably are headed for a referendum or new national elections,” said Mintz. He emphasized that despite Sharon’s probable majority vote for his plan in the Knesset on Tuesday, the plan has no national legitimacy.
The “Engagement Authority” will include Moshe Arens, former ambassador to the United Nations and defense minister, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, who is widely respected throughout the religious and secular community, Rabbi Chanan Porat of Gush Etzion and other academic and political figures. Both Rabbis Druckman and Porat are former National Religious Party Knesset members.
“Whoever is prepared to work within our guiding principles is welcome to join and work under this umbrella organization,” said Mintz.
The “Engagement Authority” will stage more events like the human chain and the simultaneous demonstrations in 100 cities, both of which drew more than 100,000 people. The new organization will give a wider national consensus to the pro-Yesha movement and refute the myth that Yesha supporters are an isolated group.
Labor party members, most of the media and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s disengagement lobby have accused pro-Yesha elements as being a tiny minority, despite the Likud party’s crushing rejection of the plan in its own referendum this summer.