In what anti-withdrawal activists are calling a prelude to this summer's Gaza evacuation, residents of a West Bank settlement slated to be emptied stopped the Israeli army yesterday from carrying out preparatory work for the withdrawal.
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IDF soldiers yesterday morning arrived at Homsesh, a small West Bank town, reportedly to widen roads so heavy military equipment can enter the area during the withdrawal. Homesh is one of four West Bank settlements scheduled for evacuation Aug. 15 along with the entire Jewish population of the Gaza Strip.
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The troops were stopped when about 100 Jewish residents of the community and several surrounding neighborhoods sat down on army bulldozers and refused to budge. The IDF retreated and declared the settlement a closed military zone, blocking roads until the protesters agreed to remove themselves from the equipment.
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According to settler sources, the protesters departed only after the army claimed yesterday's intended operation was the construction of a security tower. The IDF is scheduled to return today.
"I hope they didn't lie to us about the tower. Newspapers are now saying they came, as we thought, to widen roads for the evacuation. They won't get away with it tomorrow either," said one resident from nearby Kedumim who participated in yesterday's protest.
As the evacuation date approaches, the country is bracing itself for widespread mayhem.
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The Yesha Settlers Council Tuesday announced a march to Gaza July 18 they say will bring tens of thousands of protesters to the area – by car and on foot – to halt the withdrawal.
Anti-withdrawal activists also warned they will continue a country-wide civil disobedience campaign that aims to block roads and disrupt normal life in Israel.
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The Yesha Council last week led two major protests, one that blocked traffic throughout the country for several hours, bringing out thousands of supporters and demonstrating the group is capable of mobilizing large numbers.
As WND first reported, Israel may completely close off the Gaza Strip within the next seven days because of the ongoing protest activities.
Military sources said the army's Southern Command last night held an emergency meeting to debate an early Gaza closing.
"We are monitoring the situation around the country very carefully, and may close it very soon. We have the capability to close down Gaza within a matter of hours. If we determine it is necessary now, and that's where we are leaning, it will happen," said a senior IDF source.
Editor's note: "ISRAEL BETRAYED?" – the July issue of WND's acclaimed monthly Whistleblower magazine – is devoted entirely to an in-depth exploration of the controversial forced removal of thousands of Jewish residents from Gaza planned for August, and the likely creation of a Hamas-run terror state many believe will follow. Read more about "ISRAEL BETRAYED?"
