Dozens of residents – who were targeted by close to 5,300 rockets and shells during the Oslo War, and now face the prospect of being expelled from their homes this summer – arrived at the Tufah Crossing, near N'vei Dekalim late this morning. They protested against the arrival of the armed PA police preparing to deploy near Rafiach, not far away. Some of the protestors even removed the air from the wheels of the PA jeeps and surrounded the room in which the Israeli and PA security representatives were meeting.
"Not only did the State of Israel not protect us during Oslo," protestors said, "but now it is again making it unsafe for us [by bringing in the PA policemen]."
Police from the nearby Katif Precinct arrived and very forcibly dispersed the crowd. Two of the protestors were struck by policemen and were hospitalized in Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva.
The incident didn't end there, however. A few hours later, the police arrived in the N'vei Dekalim hesder yeshiva, and, according to eyewitnesses, "brutally arrested" one of the students. The regional police commander arrived in a jeep and announced to one of the boys that he was under arrest for his participation in the demonstration. Students said he then pushed him into the jeep, slammed him onto the bench, and drove off to the police station.
The Gush Katif residents committee called on all Civil Guard volunteers to "turn in their keys" and suspend their volunteer efforts, in light of the police behavior towards the citizens today.
Meanwhile, Palestinian terrorists continue their hostile activities. A bomb was found near the Ganei Tal hothouses today, and was neutralized by PA paramilitary policemen. "They place them there in the night and dismantle them in the morning," ironically commented the Katif.net website. "Will they be recycled for further use?"
A 40-kg. (88-lb.) explosive device near Rafiach was found and safely detonated this afternoon. At the same time, two other bombs found near the Erez Crossing at the other side of Gaza, in the north, were awaiting Border Guard sapper treatment.
"Not only did the State of Israel not protect us during Oslo," protestors said, "but now it is again making it unsafe for us [by bringing in the PA policemen]."
Police from the nearby Katif Precinct arrived and very forcibly dispersed the crowd. Two of the protestors were struck by policemen and were hospitalized in Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva.
The incident didn't end there, however. A few hours later, the police arrived in the N'vei Dekalim hesder yeshiva, and, according to eyewitnesses, "brutally arrested" one of the students. The regional police commander arrived in a jeep and announced to one of the boys that he was under arrest for his participation in the demonstration. Students said he then pushed him into the jeep, slammed him onto the bench, and drove off to the police station.
The Gush Katif residents committee called on all Civil Guard volunteers to "turn in their keys" and suspend their volunteer efforts, in light of the police behavior towards the citizens today.
Meanwhile, Palestinian terrorists continue their hostile activities. A bomb was found near the Ganei Tal hothouses today, and was neutralized by PA paramilitary policemen. "They place them there in the night and dismantle them in the morning," ironically commented the Katif.net website. "Will they be recycled for further use?"
A 40-kg. (88-lb.) explosive device near Rafiach was found and safely detonated this afternoon. At the same time, two other bombs found near the Erez Crossing at the other side of Gaza, in the north, were awaiting Border Guard sapper treatment.