Deputy Prime Minister (Likud) Ehud Olmert told Army Radio Monday that he is opposed to the anti-Disengagement rally taking place in any location. “It is not intended to serve as a legitimate voice of opposition, and therefore the decision to declare it illegal is acceptable.”
Organizers say the rally with take place nonetheless. 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 official announcement banning the protest came from Defense Minister Sha’ul Mofaz. On Monday, he informed the Council of Jewish Communities in Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) that due to security concerns regarding the danger of Kassam rocket fire, the State of Israel will not permit the arrival of the tens of thousands of protesters expected to descend on the Negev town of Sderot Tuesday.
The decision came despite an earlier agreement reached with the police, according to the Yesha Council, enabling the rally to take place.
Council members told Mofaz that they refuse to accept the excuse of rocket fire as a means by which the government can prevent dissent. “Residents of Sderot face the threat of Kassam rocket fire daily, and will face even more acute dangers following a withdrawal from Gaza,” council members told Mofaz. “It is therefore unconscionable that a rally against the very actions that will increase such attacks, is prevented using that excuse.”
Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director of Independent Media Research and Analysis, notes that there have been numerous public events held in Sderot - including events with the participation of Israeli ministers and the participation of Jewish leaders and philanthropists from overseas.
Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra (Likud) commented that issuing a permit for the demonstration 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.
Monday morning, Police Chief Moshe Karadi suggested that the rally be moved to take place in the town of Ofakim. Ofakim is further away from the Kisufim Crossing into Gush Katif, which is the declared target of a march that organizers are calling for following the rally.
During Sunday's cabinet session, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refused to allow a debate on the proposed protest as requested by Education Minister Limor Livnat. Sharon allowed her to make a statement on the matter, but did not allow Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to comment, interrupting him and declaring, “We are not holding deliberations on this topic today.”
Livnat told her fellow cabinet members, "We are speaking about the balance between democracy and the execution of Knesset decisions. Democracy is not just the existence of an election, but also the preservation of the freedom of expression, the freedom of demonstration, and the right to protest."
Organizers are planning three simultaneous marches toward Gush Katif - from Netivot, Sderot and Ofakim - with the goal of occupying three times as many members of the security forces as the 15,000 stationed two weeks ago in Kfar Maimon.
Communiques have gone out via anti-Disengagement channels announcing that buses will be heading to Sderot Tuesday, Ofakim Wednesday, and then Eshkol Park and the Gamma Junction (opposite the Kisufim Crossing) on Thursday, in order to spend the Sabbath there.
Organizers say the rally with take place nonetheless. 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 official announcement banning the protest came from Defense Minister Sha’ul Mofaz. On Monday, he informed the Council of Jewish Communities in Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) that due to security concerns regarding the danger of Kassam rocket fire, the State of Israel will not permit the arrival of the tens of thousands of protesters expected to descend on the Negev town of Sderot Tuesday.
The decision came despite an earlier agreement reached with the police, according to the Yesha Council, enabling the rally to take place.
Council members told Mofaz that they refuse to accept the excuse of rocket fire as a means by which the government can prevent dissent. “Residents of Sderot face the threat of Kassam rocket fire daily, and will face even more acute dangers following a withdrawal from Gaza,” council members told Mofaz. “It is therefore unconscionable that a rally against the very actions that will increase such attacks, is prevented using that excuse.”
Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director of Independent Media Research and Analysis, notes that there have been numerous public events held in Sderot - including events with the participation of Israeli ministers and the participation of Jewish leaders and philanthropists from overseas.
Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra (Likud) commented that issuing a permit for the demonstration 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.
Monday morning, Police Chief Moshe Karadi suggested that the rally be moved to take place in the town of Ofakim. Ofakim is further away from the Kisufim Crossing into Gush Katif, which is the declared target of a march that organizers are calling for following the rally.
During Sunday's cabinet session, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refused to allow a debate on the proposed protest as requested by Education Minister Limor Livnat. Sharon allowed her to make a statement on the matter, but did not allow Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to comment, interrupting him and declaring, “We are not holding deliberations on this topic today.”
Livnat told her fellow cabinet members, "We are speaking about the balance between democracy and the execution of Knesset decisions. Democracy is not just the existence of an election, but also the preservation of the freedom of expression, the freedom of demonstration, and the right to protest."
Organizers are planning three simultaneous marches toward Gush Katif - from Netivot, Sderot and Ofakim - with the goal of occupying three times as many members of the security forces as the 15,000 stationed two weeks ago in Kfar Maimon.
Communiques have gone out via anti-Disengagement channels announcing that buses will be heading to Sderot Tuesday, Ofakim Wednesday, and then Eshkol Park and the Gamma Junction (opposite the Kisufim Crossing) on Thursday, in order to spend the Sabbath there.