The women marched in solidarity with the Jewish communities of Gaza facing expulsion under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s disengagement plan.
“Most of the women here are grandmothers,” Hevron resident Orli Pollack told Arutz-7, “though there are some younger mothers here as well - with their children."
When the group arrived at the Kisufim crossing leading to Gush Katif, they were told to board a bus, as the IDF does not allow pedestrians to walk the two-mile road to the bloc of Jewish communities. The bus driver was then told to wait for two army jeeps to escort him. However, the women, including Kedumim Mayor Daniella Weiss, said they had no desire for an army escort, and would travel the road the way residents of Gush Katif do – without special protection.
“We came all the way here to give strength and support to the brave people of Gush Katif, “said Pollack, “and not to fearfully enter under intense armor.”
The women then disembarked from the bus and began to walk toward Gush Katif, something that has not been done for quite some time. The soldiers initially agreed to allow them to march, reasoning that it was no more dangerous than traveling by vehicle. However, when they reached the Tancher bridge a few hundred meters away, a large number of police and IDF vehicles arrived at the scene, along with a bus, and the women were told they must board the bus once again.
The women reluctantly boarded the bus, but only after obtaining a promise by the presiding officer that it would bring them to Gush Katif. Moments later, however, the same officer ordered the driver to turn the bus around and return to the Kisufim crossing. At that point, one of the women who was driving her own vehicle stopped her car in the middle of the road, blocking the bus from continuing to Kisufim. When the officer opened the door of the bus to deal with the obstruction, the marchers once again disembarked and continued on their way to Gush Katif by foot.
“We came here to strengthen the residents," Pollack said, "and the army and police were buzzing around us as if we had come to cause trouble. It’s like it has already become illegal to identify with the residents.”
The women were forcibly returned to the bus, which then brought them to N’vei Dekalim, where Gush Katif residents had hot soup waiting for them. The women, drenched and freezing for the heavy rains and wind, were in high spirits despite the unanticipated opposition to their visit.
“It was amazing to see the strength of these women,” Pollack said. “They simply have no fear and will not let the Land of Israel go without a fight. It is clear that they and others like them will be back here if the expulsion is attempted.”
“Most of the women here are grandmothers,” Hevron resident Orli Pollack told Arutz-7, “though there are some younger mothers here as well - with their children."
When the group arrived at the Kisufim crossing leading to Gush Katif, they were told to board a bus, as the IDF does not allow pedestrians to walk the two-mile road to the bloc of Jewish communities. The bus driver was then told to wait for two army jeeps to escort him. However, the women, including Kedumim Mayor Daniella Weiss, said they had no desire for an army escort, and would travel the road the way residents of Gush Katif do – without special protection.
“We came all the way here to give strength and support to the brave people of Gush Katif, “said Pollack, “and not to fearfully enter under intense armor.”
The women then disembarked from the bus and began to walk toward Gush Katif, something that has not been done for quite some time. The soldiers initially agreed to allow them to march, reasoning that it was no more dangerous than traveling by vehicle. However, when they reached the Tancher bridge a few hundred meters away, a large number of police and IDF vehicles arrived at the scene, along with a bus, and the women were told they must board the bus once again.
The women reluctantly boarded the bus, but only after obtaining a promise by the presiding officer that it would bring them to Gush Katif. Moments later, however, the same officer ordered the driver to turn the bus around and return to the Kisufim crossing. At that point, one of the women who was driving her own vehicle stopped her car in the middle of the road, blocking the bus from continuing to Kisufim. When the officer opened the door of the bus to deal with the obstruction, the marchers once again disembarked and continued on their way to Gush Katif by foot.
“We came here to strengthen the residents," Pollack said, "and the army and police were buzzing around us as if we had come to cause trouble. It’s like it has already become illegal to identify with the residents.”
The women were forcibly returned to the bus, which then brought them to N’vei Dekalim, where Gush Katif residents had hot soup waiting for them. The women, drenched and freezing for the heavy rains and wind, were in high spirits despite the unanticipated opposition to their visit.
“It was amazing to see the strength of these women,” Pollack said. “They simply have no fear and will not let the Land of Israel go without a fight. It is clear that they and others like them will be back here if the expulsion is attempted.”