Thus opens the notice calling for mass participation in a marathon 36-hour protest against Disengagement and for a national referendum at the Knesset tomorrow.
The demonstration - organized by the Judea, Samaria and Gaza Council and grassroots activist organizations - is scheduled to coincide with deliberations on two critical votes in the Knesset that impact the implementation of the Disengagement Plan. The rally will begin on Monday at 10:00am, several hours ahead of the Knesset vote on the proposal for a referendum on the government's plans for Gush Katif and northern Samaria. On Wednesday, the morning after the demonstration is to conclude, the Knesset will begin a marathon of voting on the budget and its accompanying Arrangements Bill. Judea, Samaria and Gaza Council organizers of the 36-hour protest say that approval of the national budget presented by what they termed "the expulsion government" is tantamount to approval of the Disengagement Plan itself. If the budget bill does not pass, new elections must be held within 90 days.
"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," say the organizers of the mass rally. Labor party leaders have already stated that if the Knesset approves a referendum, then they will act to bring down the government and move for new elections. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is also said to prefer elections to a referendum on Disengagement.
Former Chief Rabbis Mordechai Eliyahu and Avraham Shapira are two of over 60 rabbis appearing as signatories to the announcement that was printed in the nation's newspapers over the weekend calling for the public to join the demonstration. The rabbis' statement concludes, "We will take part." Participants will circle the Knesset, as the promotional literature says, "to protect democracy", as well as attending Torah lectures and hearing speeches by rabbis, Knesset members and other VIPs.
When Ariel Sharon was in the opposition and advising protest against the Oslo Accords, he advocated lengthy, silent mass protests against the government, rather than the noisy demonstrations that were common in the early days of the negotiations with the PLO. Organizers of tomorrow's protest have billed it as a "Demonstration of Silence".
The demonstration - organized by the Judea, Samaria and Gaza Council and grassroots activist organizations - is scheduled to coincide with deliberations on two critical votes in the Knesset that impact the implementation of the Disengagement Plan. The rally will begin on Monday at 10:00am, several hours ahead of the Knesset vote on the proposal for a referendum on the government's plans for Gush Katif and northern Samaria. On Wednesday, the morning after the demonstration is to conclude, the Knesset will begin a marathon of voting on the budget and its accompanying Arrangements Bill. Judea, Samaria and Gaza Council organizers of the 36-hour protest say that approval of the national budget presented by what they termed "the expulsion government" is tantamount to approval of the Disengagement Plan itself. If the budget bill does not pass, new elections must be held within 90 days.
"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," say the organizers of the mass rally. Labor party leaders have already stated that if the Knesset approves a referendum, then they will act to bring down the government and move for new elections. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is also said to prefer elections to a referendum on Disengagement.
Former Chief Rabbis Mordechai Eliyahu and Avraham Shapira are two of over 60 rabbis appearing as signatories to the announcement that was printed in the nation's newspapers over the weekend calling for the public to join the demonstration. The rabbis' statement concludes, "We will take part." Participants will circle the Knesset, as the promotional literature says, "to protect democracy", as well as attending Torah lectures and hearing speeches by rabbis, Knesset members and other VIPs.
When Ariel Sharon was in the opposition and advising protest against the Oslo Accords, he advocated lengthy, silent mass protests against the government, rather than the noisy demonstrations that were common in the early days of the negotiations with the PLO. Organizers of tomorrow's protest have billed it as a "Demonstration of Silence".