MK Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (in large picture) of the National Religious Party was asked today if, in light of the Knesset vote, he sees any way in which the disengagement can be prevented. His response:
"There are two possibilities. One is something that we don't hope for, and that is that the Palestinians will disrupt the entire process with some kind of terror attack. But from our standpoint, what we have to do is for the public to make its opinion known. We have to have large rallies, and many of them – one large demonstration doesn't make a difference to Sharon, as we saw, but if there are many, he won't be able to ignore them. There has to be a plan...
"In addition, we have to be there in Gush Katif on the day [the order is given]. It's obvious that this can't pass without a large public outcry, without the public taking action. In the end, as I said yesterday when I read Rabbi Kook's letter in the Knesset, this whole thing has to lead to public conciliation and unity – but in the meantime, we have to make our voice heard. The public can't simply at home and say, it's too late, the decree has been given.'"
Q. "But the order will be given to close the entire area and make it a closed military zone - what will we be able to do?"
Rabbi Levy: "That will stop many people, but not all; but in any event, even if we stand in our tens of thousands from Gush Katif all the way to Ashdod and close the country, this will also be something that can't be ignored. Maybe it will stop the next evacuation of Yesha communities – because it's clear that as soon as we get rid of one town, the Americans will be waiting to hear our plans for the next withdrawal. In short, I will call on the public not to stay at home."
MK Benny Elon (National Union) (pictured above) said yesterday that the campaign to stop the withdrawal/expulsion plan will have to become a massive campaign of "civil disobedience." "We will use Martin Luther King as our guide in this matter," Elon said. King was famous in the 1950's and 60's for leading many marches, boycotts, and sit-ins, and was jailed several times - and is considered to have been an important factor in achieving improved civil rights for U.S. blacks.
MK Nissan Slomiansky (NRP): "Blocking intersections is a painful subject. In principle, I believe that we need the good feeling of the nation towards us, especially if there is to be a referendum... We must continue to struggle up to the last moment, in all the planes – politically in the Knesset, in contacts with Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, and in the public arena... If, on the day the disengagement order is given, there are 150,000 people in Gush Katif, there will be no expulsion."
"There are two possibilities. One is something that we don't hope for, and that is that the Palestinians will disrupt the entire process with some kind of terror attack. But from our standpoint, what we have to do is for the public to make its opinion known. We have to have large rallies, and many of them – one large demonstration doesn't make a difference to Sharon, as we saw, but if there are many, he won't be able to ignore them. There has to be a plan...
"In addition, we have to be there in Gush Katif on the day [the order is given]. It's obvious that this can't pass without a large public outcry, without the public taking action. In the end, as I said yesterday when I read Rabbi Kook's letter in the Knesset, this whole thing has to lead to public conciliation and unity – but in the meantime, we have to make our voice heard. The public can't simply at home and say, it's too late, the decree has been given.'"
Q. "But the order will be given to close the entire area and make it a closed military zone - what will we be able to do?"
Rabbi Levy: "That will stop many people, but not all; but in any event, even if we stand in our tens of thousands from Gush Katif all the way to Ashdod and close the country, this will also be something that can't be ignored. Maybe it will stop the next evacuation of Yesha communities – because it's clear that as soon as we get rid of one town, the Americans will be waiting to hear our plans for the next withdrawal. In short, I will call on the public not to stay at home."
MK Benny Elon (National Union) (pictured above) said yesterday that the campaign to stop the withdrawal/expulsion plan will have to become a massive campaign of "civil disobedience." "We will use Martin Luther King as our guide in this matter," Elon said. King was famous in the 1950's and 60's for leading many marches, boycotts, and sit-ins, and was jailed several times - and is considered to have been an important factor in achieving improved civil rights for U.S. blacks.
MK Nissan Slomiansky (NRP): "Blocking intersections is a painful subject. In principle, I believe that we need the good feeling of the nation towards us, especially if there is to be a referendum... We must continue to struggle up to the last moment, in all the planes – politically in the Knesset, in contacts with Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, and in the public arena... If, on the day the disengagement order is given, there are 150,000 people in Gush Katif, there will be no expulsion."