"I never would have believed that a Prime Minister of Israel would impose a siege on Jews," one resident said.
People from the Katif community of Kfar Darom refused to accept the decree, and set off last night for the Kisufim Junction - the entrance to Gush Katif - for a major protest. They passed through Kisufim, and then immediately turned around to return, in the knowledge that they would be asked to produce proof of residence in Katif. This they refused to do, and the policemen in turn refused to allow them to enter. An instant traffic jam was caused, with cars and people blocking the entrance to Gush Katif.
"Jews have the right to travel freely in the Land of Israel," one said, "and we will not accept this situation."
The blockage on the one side resulted in a closure on the other side, and people leaving Gush Katif - including many guests who had come to celebrate at one of two Bar Mitzvahs or pay a condolence call to a well-known family over the loss of its mother - were unable to do so.
The stand-off lasted for about five hours, with only scattered incidents of reported police violence when they cleared the protestors from the road. The police also tried to tow away some of the cars at one point.
Some of the motorists on their way out of Gush Katif were allowed to travel by a side sand road and thus detour the blockade, but after a while the police closed off this option as well, for a time.
One policeman told a blocked motorist, "Look who's blocking the road - the people from Gush Katif." The motorist responded, "You're the ones who are not allowing us to go via the side road; you're trying to breed infighting amongst us." The policeman did not respond.
Shortly after 1 AM, three local rabbis and another communal leader met with the police - and came out afterwards saying that those who wished to identify themselves and be allowed to pass through should do so. "The police did not negotiate with us in any way," one of the four who met with them said, "but we heard and saw their plans to use force to disperse us."
Many people remained behind for another hour or more, refusing to give in to what they said was the "humiliation" of being forced to produce papers to Jewish government policemen in order to return home. Finally, shortly before 2:30 AM, those who said they lived in Gush Katif were waved on and allowed to pass.
"Was it a victory?" Arutz-7 asked one of the participants, Ami Yonati of Netzer Hazani.
"We don't measure things this way," he responded. "This is just one battle, and our goal is to win the war. There were many more policemen and soldiers than we were, and it's likely that they were not happy about having so many of their forces tied up for such a long time."
Others said that the incident was a sign of what could happen in the future at roadblocks in other areas near Gaza, such as Ashkelon.
Yonati said, "What we have to do is to keep on talking to these soldiers and policemen, and reminding them that we're not against each other, and that they don't want to be involved in such acts. It's true that many of them are afraid for their jobs, but one policeman last night gave up in the middle, and said he doesn't want to do it. We have to keep pushing this point."
Ami's wife said she fears that last night's incident, in which police used violence only sporadically, is only the beginning of a very difficult period. "It doesn't look good," she said, "even for this Monday's march from Netivot. The rumors are that the police are planning to step up their violence against us."
At one point last night, a driver tried to pass through on a dirt road towards Gush Katif without Identifying himself. A low-level officer yelled to his troops, "Stop him!" - and they ran in front of the car, which barely managed to stop without hitting them. A bystander called out, "Is that something to endanger your lives for - preventing a Jew from returning home to his family? Don’t be such heroes!"
To the commander, the man said, "Why is it that of late, when terrorists fire mortar shells at Gush Katif, the soldiers are ordered to hold their fire - but against Jews, they may freely endanger their lives?"
In another exchange witnessed by Arutz-7's correspondent, a soldier said to a resident, "I'm in favor of the disengagement. Don't you realize how many soldiers it takes to watch over you?" The man responded, "In that case, let's close down the whole country - then we won't need an army at all! The purpose of the army is to protect its citizens; one time I protect you, and later you'll protect me. Should the youth of Gush Katif refuse to serve in the Golan or in the Jordan Valley? We're one people and one army, and we're all in this together." The soldier responded, "There's something to what you’re saying."
"Little by little," Yonati said, "if we keep on talking to them like this, we can make a big difference - and it's not too late."
Youth in N'vei Dekalim, Gush Katif's largest community, blocked IDF Chief Personnel Officer Brig.-Gen. Elazar Stern from entering his car following a visit in the town today (Thursday). Eyewitnesses said he first tried to persuade them to move, but then began moving them forcibly by hitting them with his gun butt. He then ordered his driver to drive the car, even though youths were still congregated around the car. Three boys required medical treatment after being hit or having their toes driven over.
Yesterday, Defense Ministry Director-General Amos Yaron was similarly ill-received in Kfar Darom.
Click Here to Visit Gush Katif via Arutz-7's Interactive Map and Virtual Video
People from the Katif community of Kfar Darom refused to accept the decree, and set off last night for the Kisufim Junction - the entrance to Gush Katif - for a major protest. They passed through Kisufim, and then immediately turned around to return, in the knowledge that they would be asked to produce proof of residence in Katif. This they refused to do, and the policemen in turn refused to allow them to enter. An instant traffic jam was caused, with cars and people blocking the entrance to Gush Katif.
"Jews have the right to travel freely in the Land of Israel," one said, "and we will not accept this situation."
The blockage on the one side resulted in a closure on the other side, and people leaving Gush Katif - including many guests who had come to celebrate at one of two Bar Mitzvahs or pay a condolence call to a well-known family over the loss of its mother - were unable to do so.
The stand-off lasted for about five hours, with only scattered incidents of reported police violence when they cleared the protestors from the road. The police also tried to tow away some of the cars at one point.
Some of the motorists on their way out of Gush Katif were allowed to travel by a side sand road and thus detour the blockade, but after a while the police closed off this option as well, for a time.
One policeman told a blocked motorist, "Look who's blocking the road - the people from Gush Katif." The motorist responded, "You're the ones who are not allowing us to go via the side road; you're trying to breed infighting amongst us." The policeman did not respond.
Shortly after 1 AM, three local rabbis and another communal leader met with the police - and came out afterwards saying that those who wished to identify themselves and be allowed to pass through should do so. "The police did not negotiate with us in any way," one of the four who met with them said, "but we heard and saw their plans to use force to disperse us."
Many people remained behind for another hour or more, refusing to give in to what they said was the "humiliation" of being forced to produce papers to Jewish government policemen in order to return home. Finally, shortly before 2:30 AM, those who said they lived in Gush Katif were waved on and allowed to pass.
"Was it a victory?" Arutz-7 asked one of the participants, Ami Yonati of Netzer Hazani.
"We don't measure things this way," he responded. "This is just one battle, and our goal is to win the war. There were many more policemen and soldiers than we were, and it's likely that they were not happy about having so many of their forces tied up for such a long time."
Others said that the incident was a sign of what could happen in the future at roadblocks in other areas near Gaza, such as Ashkelon.
Yonati said, "What we have to do is to keep on talking to these soldiers and policemen, and reminding them that we're not against each other, and that they don't want to be involved in such acts. It's true that many of them are afraid for their jobs, but one policeman last night gave up in the middle, and said he doesn't want to do it. We have to keep pushing this point."
Ami's wife said she fears that last night's incident, in which police used violence only sporadically, is only the beginning of a very difficult period. "It doesn't look good," she said, "even for this Monday's march from Netivot. The rumors are that the police are planning to step up their violence against us."
At one point last night, a driver tried to pass through on a dirt road towards Gush Katif without Identifying himself. A low-level officer yelled to his troops, "Stop him!" - and they ran in front of the car, which barely managed to stop without hitting them. A bystander called out, "Is that something to endanger your lives for - preventing a Jew from returning home to his family? Don’t be such heroes!"
To the commander, the man said, "Why is it that of late, when terrorists fire mortar shells at Gush Katif, the soldiers are ordered to hold their fire - but against Jews, they may freely endanger their lives?"
In another exchange witnessed by Arutz-7's correspondent, a soldier said to a resident, "I'm in favor of the disengagement. Don't you realize how many soldiers it takes to watch over you?" The man responded, "In that case, let's close down the whole country - then we won't need an army at all! The purpose of the army is to protect its citizens; one time I protect you, and later you'll protect me. Should the youth of Gush Katif refuse to serve in the Golan or in the Jordan Valley? We're one people and one army, and we're all in this together." The soldier responded, "There's something to what you’re saying."
"Little by little," Yonati said, "if we keep on talking to them like this, we can make a big difference - and it's not too late."
Youth in N'vei Dekalim, Gush Katif's largest community, blocked IDF Chief Personnel Officer Brig.-Gen. Elazar Stern from entering his car following a visit in the town today (Thursday). Eyewitnesses said he first tried to persuade them to move, but then began moving them forcibly by hitting them with his gun butt. He then ordered his driver to drive the car, even though youths were still congregated around the car. Three boys required medical treatment after being hit or having their toes driven over.
Yesterday, Defense Ministry Director-General Amos Yaron was similarly ill-received in Kfar Darom.
Click Here to Visit Gush Katif via Arutz-7's Interactive Map and Virtual Video