The evacuation of anti-pullout activists from the Maoz Hayam hotel in Gush Katif is testimony to the fact that the rule of law will be upheld, sources in the Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Office said Thursday.
“The law will be upheld in its entirety, just as the prime minister has made clear,” one source said.
“Whoever breaks the law will be brought to justice,” the source said. “They (security forces) carried out the raid in a clear-cut manner, and this is a sign of things to come; there will be no compromises.”
The source added: “Tolerance regarding the obstruction of the foundations of law and democracy is almost non-existent.”
“There should be no comparison with the Palestinians. Our only test is the upholding of standards of the rule of law of a democratic country,” he said.
The Yesha Council has demanded that the IDF open Gush Katif immediately to allow what they called a normal life for the area’s residents. Gaza has been declared a clozed military zone by the army, in preparation for the disengagement.
The council warned that if the IDF did not reverse its decision to seal off the Gaza Strip, it would launch a campaign entitled “Helping our heroic brethren,” which will include the flooding of Gush Katif with thousands of supporters.
'IDF took easy way out'
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak said that the raid was “a painful but necessary move.”
“The government and security forces should be supported in their action, which was carried out to emphasize the country’s authority over its citizens,” he said. “This is a fight over the essence of our democracy.”
Knesset Member Yuli Tamir (Labor) said that following the raid, she called on Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to use his authority to forbid parents to place their children in dangerous situations.
She said she demanded that Mazuz make it clear that “every parent that will display irresponsibility toward his or her children would be punished to the full extent of the law, and that in such a situation, the state would be permitted to try and take the children out of the parent’s custody.
National Religious Party Chairman Zvulun Orlev said: “The Gaza Strip must be opened immediately. The sealing off of the strip reflects on the security forces’ weakness.”
“The IDF and the government have chosen the easy way out and are punishing an entire sector of law-abiding citizens in Gush Katif, due to the security forces’ failure to act in a decisive and determined manner against outlaws who came to Gush Katif," said Orlev.
Attila Somfalvi contributed to this article.
