Sharon facing huge street protests re Gaza plan.

The New York Times reports:

FULL ARTICLE - free registratipn required.


"Israelis Protest Sharon's Plan to Oust Jews From Gaza

JERUSALEM, Sept. 12 - Tens of thousands of right-wing Israelis packed the streets of central Jerusalem on Sunday night in the latest mass protest against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip.

The rally occurred just hours after Mr. Sharon said at a cabinet meeting that growing incitement by right-wing activists could lead to violence, or even civil war, in Israel.

"We have witnessed in the past few days a very grave campaign of incitement, I would say, with calls that in essence are aimed at inciting a civil war," Mr. Sharon told his ministers in the first few minutes of the meeting, which was filmed by television crews. "I see this as very grave."

The demonstrators, meanwhile, filled Zion Square in a rally organized by settlers and their backers as part of their effort to derail the plan to pull out of Gaza, tentatively set for next year.

"Sharon, what happened to you?" read one banner, referring to his decades of strong support for settlements. "The government of Sharon is a government of destruction," said another held by the protesters, many of them young settlers.

The prime minister has said he sees no future for Israelis in Gaza, and is willing to leave the territory while trying to strengthen Israel's hold on the much larger West Bank settlements.

Both developments reflect the mounting tension in Israel as Mr. Sharon prepares to proceed with the withdrawal plan, which has the backing of most Israelis, polls show. But the Gaza pullout faces strong opposition from the well-organized settlers, in addition to segments of Mr. Sharon's own Likud Party and some other traditional supporters........."


Civil war in Israel? I hope not - I strongly support Sharon's policy - what do you think?


The article goes on to mention:

".......In another development on Sunday, a lawyer representing Israel told the High Court of Justice in Jerusalem that the state would re-examine parts of a West Bank separation barrier that has been constructed near Qalqilya, a Palestinian town, those present said.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel filed the petition on behalf of Palestinian villagers who have been cut off from farmland and face other difficulties, said Yoav Loeff, a spokesman for the group. The judge gave the state 60 days to respond, Mr. Loeff said.

It will be the first time the state will re-examine a significant section of the barrier that has already been built, he said."


Hmmmmmmm....