Settlers back call to resist Gaza pullout (Agencies) Updated: 2004-12-21 09:27
The leaders of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and West Bank urged their
followers Monday to resist a government plan to withdraw from parts of the
occupied territories, edging closer to open revolt against Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon's plan to pull out next summer.
While the leaders said they remained opposed to violence, their call for
civil disobedience — even at the risk of going to jail — marked the first time
they have advocated breaking the law.
The announcement came on the eve of a visit by British Prime Minister Tony
Blair, who will push to restart Mideast peace talks following the death of
Yasser Arafat. In a setback to Blair, Israel bowed out of a proposed Mideast
conference in Britain, after earlier indicating it would attend.
![Supporters of the Israeli settler movement join arms as they sing following a news conference in Jerusalem, Monday, Dec. 20, 2004. Israeli settler leaders on Monday backed a call to resist the planned evacuation of settlements in the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, even if it means going to jail, but said they remain opposed to using violence. [AP]](xin_251201210930296111116.jpg) Supporters of the Israeli settler movement
join arms as they sing following a news conference in Jerusalem, Monday,
Dec. 20, 2004. Israeli settler leaders on Monday backed a call to resist
the planned evacuation of settlements in the Gaza Strip and parts of the
West Bank, even if it means going to jail, but said they remain opposed to
using violence. [AP] | Since Sharon announced his withdrawal plan early this year, the settler
movement has tried to defeat it through political lobbying and an aggressive
advertising campaign.
Last summer, their political allies quit Sharon's ruling coalition in an
attempt to undermine him, leaving the prime minister with a minority government.
Settlers also enjoy strong support among many legislators in Sharon's Likud
Party.
But Sharon has managed to outmaneuver them, turning to the moderate
opposition for support as his hard-line coalition crumbled. That strategy
appeared headed for success Monday, when parliament endorsed a reform bill that
is expected to clear the way for the moderate Labor Party to join the
government. A coalition with Labor would restore Sharon's majority, guaranteeing
strong Cabinet support for the Gaza withdrawal.
With their political options dwindling, leaders of the Yesha Settlers
Council, a group representing settlers in Gaza and the West Bank, endorsed a
call by a prominent leader, Pinchas Wallerstein, to resist the withdrawal.
In a message distributed to settlers and repeated in a radio interview,
Wallerstein said he is ready to go to prison for his beliefs.
"The Yesha council stands behind Pinchas Wallerstein," council head Bentsi
Lieberman said later at a news conference. "The proposal to expel Jews from
their homes is an immoral decision and a breach of human rights." Yesha is a
Hebrew acronym for Judea, Samaria and Gaza, the biblical names of the
territories.
Lieberman said the settlers oppose violence and would not use force against
soldiers involved in the evacuation.
Outside the news conference, settler activists and opponents squared off. The
opposition activists held torches in the air, along with signs saying "Peace
Yes, Occupation No." The settlers danced around their opponents, holding signs
saying "We're all Pinchas."
Sharon called Wallerstein's statement "harsh." Sharon, who for decades was
the leading patron of the settlers, said he understands their pain, but that
they must not break the law.
Ran Cohen, an opposition lawmaker with the dovish Yahad Party, accused
Wallerstein of making "a declaration of war," claiming that there are several
dozen extremist settlers who are ready to resort to violence.
"I think this was a call for rebellion that will lead in the end to political
murder," he said. In 1995, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by an
ultranationalist Jew opposed to his peacemaking efforts with the Palestinians.
Attorney General Meni Mazuz warned the settlers against making inciteful
comments, but decided late Monday not to press charges against Wallerstein, the
Justice Ministry said.
Under Sharon's withdrawal plan, 25 settlements — all 21 in Gaza and four in
the West Bank — are to be dismantled between July and September. Sharon
initially presented the withdrawal as a unilateral act, after refusing to
negotiate with Arafat, whom he accused of backing violence, but is now ready to
coordinate the pullout with the new Palestinian leadership.
Arafat's Nov. 11 death has led the way to an international push to restart
full peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Blair, who arrives
Tuesday, is the highest profile visitor to the area as part of that effort.
Sharon announced Monday that Israel will not join the international Mideast
conference that Blair has been pushing. "We will not participate, but we
understand its importance," Sharon said.
Last week, a Sharon adviser said Israel was prepared to attend, provided the
conference focuses on the Palestinian economic revival and government reform,
and not on issues to be negotiated by Israel and the Palestinians. The
Palestinians want the conference to deal with "final status issues," including
borders and the future of Jerusalem.
Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat called Israel's decision to back out
"unfortunate."
In London, the British Foreign Office appeared to back Sharon. "This meeting
is about Palestine and practical reforms within Palestine," it said.
In Israel's political arena, the parliament passed a preliminary reading of a
government reform bill, clearing the way for the opposition Labor Party to join
Sharon's coalition.
The measure, which must still pass three additional readings, would create a
second position of vice prime minister. Labor Party leader Shimon Peres has
demanded the post as a condition for joining the government. Under current law,
there can only be one vice premier, a post held by Sharon confidant Ehud
Olmert.
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