The first demonstration, on Sunday, will involve 50 sheep from the Galilee and elsewhere. The demonstrators will demand an "end to the silence of the lambs" – a reference to the lack of strong opposition among many Likud MKs to Prime Minister Sharon's turning his back on the Likud party platform.
The protestors will also proclaim, "We won't go like Sharon's sheep to the slaughter" – a reference to the livestock on the Sharon Family Farm, called Havat HaShikmim, in the Negev.
The protest was to have been held today, but animal rights organizations filed a court complaint. They claimed that transporting the animals to a loud rally would constitute unfair and improper treatment of the animals. A Jerusalem Magistrates Court judge rejected their claim, saying he was convinced that the animals would be transported in an appropriate manner, and that freedom of expression overrides these concerns.
The court ruling came too late for the demonstration to be held today, however, and it will take place on Sunday instead, outside the Knesset.
Yesha Council spokesperson Emily Amrusi stated in response, "We did not hear these organizations protesting about the brutal expulsion of human families from their homes, or about the removal of children from their 'natural surroundings.' The concern for animals' rights at the expense of physical harm to people is unbridled hypocrisy."
A second demonstration – a vigil of silence – will take place on Monday, outside the Knesset, several hours before the vote on the referendum is to be held. Beginning at 10 AM, the rally is scheduled to last for two days, and organizers hope that tens of thousands of people will show up. "We will show that it is truly the will of the people to be able to have their say on such an important issue as the future of Gaza and the northern Shomron," the Yesha Council organizers say.
The protestors will also proclaim, "We won't go like Sharon's sheep to the slaughter" – a reference to the livestock on the Sharon Family Farm, called Havat HaShikmim, in the Negev.
The protest was to have been held today, but animal rights organizations filed a court complaint. They claimed that transporting the animals to a loud rally would constitute unfair and improper treatment of the animals. A Jerusalem Magistrates Court judge rejected their claim, saying he was convinced that the animals would be transported in an appropriate manner, and that freedom of expression overrides these concerns.
The court ruling came too late for the demonstration to be held today, however, and it will take place on Sunday instead, outside the Knesset.
Yesha Council spokesperson Emily Amrusi stated in response, "We did not hear these organizations protesting about the brutal expulsion of human families from their homes, or about the removal of children from their 'natural surroundings.' The concern for animals' rights at the expense of physical harm to people is unbridled hypocrisy."
A second demonstration – a vigil of silence – will take place on Monday, outside the Knesset, several hours before the vote on the referendum is to be held. Beginning at 10 AM, the rally is scheduled to last for two days, and organizers hope that tens of thousands of people will show up. "We will show that it is truly the will of the people to be able to have their say on such an important issue as the future of Gaza and the northern Shomron," the Yesha Council organizers say.