Two Likud Cabinet members, Education Minister Limor Livnat and Finance Minister Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, tried to bring up for debate the decision by the police to refuse a permit for this week's rally at Sderot. Without a permit, the police can stop people from attending the protest because it technically is illegal.
Livnat told Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, "Democracy is not just about elections but preserving free speech, the freedom to demonstrate. When Netanyahu tried to add a comment, Sharon announced, "The matter was not up for debate" in the schedule of topics to be discussed.
Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra (Likud) denounced Livnat's attempt to challenge the decision by Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi to refuse a permit for the rally. He said it was a professional matter and added that the object of the rally is to prevent the government from enforcing the law to expel Jewish residents from Gush Katif and northern Gaza in mid-August.
Rally organizers said they will demonstrate, with or without a permit. Ezra said that issuing a permit would not be a problem if organizers from the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha) would drop their demand to march to Gush Katif, which is a closed military zone.
Yesha leader Pinchas Wallerstein said it was their democratic right to try to sway public opinion against the expulsion plan. Yesha wants to stage two demonstrations, one in Sderot and another at the nearby town of Netivot.
The police commander of the southern division, Uri Bar-Lev, said his officers would use all force necessary to prevent people from trying to reach Gush Katif, where an estimated 2,000 people have succeeded in entering the past two weeks.
The police already have deployed officers in the Sderot area to prevent people from gathering, but Yesha leaders still are negotiating with the police commissioner and plan to speak with defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Monday.
A police spokesman added that government prosecutors should open an investigation against Yesha leaders for calling for rebellion.
Livnat told Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, "Democracy is not just about elections but preserving free speech, the freedom to demonstrate. When Netanyahu tried to add a comment, Sharon announced, "The matter was not up for debate" in the schedule of topics to be discussed.
Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra (Likud) denounced Livnat's attempt to challenge the decision by Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi to refuse a permit for the rally. He said it was a professional matter and added that the object of the rally is to prevent the government from enforcing the law to expel Jewish residents from Gush Katif and northern Gaza in mid-August.
Rally organizers said they will demonstrate, with or without a permit. Ezra said that issuing a permit would not be a problem if organizers from the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha) would drop their demand to march to Gush Katif, which is a closed military zone.
Yesha leader Pinchas Wallerstein said it was their democratic right to try to sway public opinion against the expulsion plan. Yesha wants to stage two demonstrations, one in Sderot and another at the nearby town of Netivot.
The police commander of the southern division, Uri Bar-Lev, said his officers would use all force necessary to prevent people from trying to reach Gush Katif, where an estimated 2,000 people have succeeded in entering the past two weeks.
The police already have deployed officers in the Sderot area to prevent people from gathering, but Yesha leaders still are negotiating with the police commissioner and plan to speak with defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Monday.
A police spokesman added that government prosecutors should open an investigation against Yesha leaders for calling for rebellion.