Worldwide protests planned against Gaza evac

Worldwide rallies, including a gathering in New York, are planned this week to coincide with a massive protest march in Israel against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to evacuate Jewish communities from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.

The Alliance for Eretz Yisroel, a coalition of organizations opposed to the Gaza withdrawal, is planning a rally Tuesday in New York's Times Square from noon until 2 p.m. EST to protest the Gaza evacuation.

Simultaneous rallies are scheduled for several U.S. cities including Boston, Casa Grande, Ariz., Chicago, Denver, Grants Pass, Ore., Greeley, Colo., Houston , Merritt Island, Fla., Miami, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Springdale, Ark. and Washington, DC.

Protests are also being planned for Tuesday in London, Montreal, Toronto, Paris, Melbourne, Amsterdam and Antwerp.

Speakers at the New York rally will include State Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-NY), Zionist Organization of America President Morton A. Klein, Chief Rabbi of the Israeli Efrat community Shlomo Riskin, Jewish Gaza leader Rachel Saperstein, Israeli Minister Benny Elon, Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad and numerous other anti-withdrawal leaders.

The worldwide rallies are set to coincide with a three day protest march to Jewish Gaza that begins Monday. The Yesha Settlers Council says it will lead the march to bring tens of thousands to "aid our brave brothers" in Gaza and "halt the disengagement plan."

According to the Yesha Council, "A huge operation will be launched [Monday], aimed at delaying the [evacuation] plan by transferring many people to Gush Katif (the main slate of Gaza's Jewish communities). Starting in the morning, convoys will depart from all cities and all towns across the country. After convening in the afternoon, the people will set out in convoys to the Gush. Wherever police officers decide to stop the vehicles, we will start walking.

"The aim is to reach the Gush Katif settlements within two or three days ... Reaching the Gush and the rate of progress depend on the responses of the authorities. Even if military and police forces try to prevent the advance of the protesters, they will continue to advance on foot until they join our besieged brothers in the Gush," the council said in a statement.

David Romanoff, organizer of the worldwide protests, told WND, "The media has been falsely portraying American and worldwide public opinion as supporting Sharon's evacuation. This in spite of a recent poll that clearly shows Americans are against the expulsion plan. Our rallies will demonstrate a tremendous groundswell of support for the Jews of Gush Katif."

In what many are viewing as an early start to this summer's evacuation plan, Sharon Wednesday ordered the Gaza Strip and towns in the northern West Bank completely closed, declaring the areas military zones in an effort to thwart plans by protesters to flock to the embattled towns. The order permanently bans all non-residents from entering the Jewish communities slated for evacuation Aug. 17.

The evacuation plan has drawn criticism from many Israeli lawmakers and defense officers.

A recent poll also found most Americans oppose the Gaza withdrawal. By a margin of two to one, Americans believe the Gaza plan rewards terrorism, according to a June 26-27 survey by McLaughlin & Associates, a major national polling company. The poll was commissioned by the Zionist Organization of America.

ZOA President Klein said the poll exposes the "myth" that Americans support the withdrawal plan.

"Americans realize that it's a bad deal for Israel to make these major concessions without getting anything in return," he said. "They also understand that this rewards the Hamas and Fatah suicide bombing terrorists whose counterparts are killing Americans every day in Iraq."

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?"

Popular Right Now

Jen Psaki bizarrely stereotypes white conservatives, gets brutally mocked in response

NFL fans furious after Democrat announces vaccination will be required to attend games

Poll: Majority of voters still say cheating 'likely' affected 2020 election

Governor blocks Biden from housing unaccompanied minors in state's foster care, residential facilities

Voters blame Biden for border crisis, ready to punish Democrats, poll says

WATCH: Students support voting bill, then blow a gasket when they learn it's actually Georgia's law

Madison Cawthorn introduces bill to protect border wall by declaring it a national monument

Arsonist-in-chief Obama keeps fanning the flames

Recently Posted