'Road-blocking is rebellion'
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz says in relation to certain anti-pullout demonstrations, ‘Illegal action should be last resort in any democratic society;’ settlers have filed 396 requests, another 20-30 applications submitted every day, disengagement official says; meanwhile, security chief says prisons ready for thousands of arrests
JERUSALEM - As of Tuesday afternoon, would-be evacuees have submitted 396 compensation requests, and another 20-30 requests are being filed daily, Disengagement Authority Head Yonatan Bassi said during a special Knesset session.
Bassi noted he is interested in communal solutions, that is, relocating settlers in groups, and said the Administration is currently engaged in negotiations, open or otherwise, with almost all Gush Katif communities.
“We’ll be able to provide fair solutions for communal settlement to every community that wants them,” he said.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz addressed the anti-pullout road-blocking demonstrations and public disturbances.
“We are dealing here with hard core rebellion - the initiated use of violent acts with violent means. The organization of road-blockings is rebellion,” he said.
“We went to great lengths so as not to hurt or prevent freedom of expression. There were all kinds of condemnations regarding the weakness of the rule of law, and we have withstood them. Illegal action should be the last resort of any struggle in a democratic society.”
Meanwhile, Police Chief Moshe Karadi said that extended road closures are possible during the disengagement in the event of mass anti-pullout road-blocking protests.
“The limited manpower should be taken into account,” he said.
Interior Security Minister Gideon Ezra said that the Prisons Authority has made preparations to for 2300 arrests of anti-disengagement protestors.
“We are ready for even more arrests than that,” added Ezra.
'Think of your children'
Earlier, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said would-be evacuees should think of their children when considering their opposition to the pullout plan.
Sharon’s remarks came in response to reports about the Yesha Council’s plan to erect a tent city in Gush Katif.
“If anyone prefers to live in a tent, it’s his right,” the prime minister said. “To anyone who thinks the disengagement won’t be implemented I say for the thousandth time: the disengagement plan will be executed in accordance with the timetable set by the government and Knesset.”
“I regret those who create false hopes, but in the middle of next month Israel will start evacuating the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria,” he said.
The special session was held by the Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee in conjunction with the Knesset Constitution Committee and was attended by senior ministers, the police chief, and top security officials.
During the discussion, the prime minister also noted that every settler facing evacuation has a either a temporary or permanent relocation solution.
“The government has prepared and is preparing…to provide solutions to each one of the evacuees who are interested,” he said. “The compensation funds are waiting…”
'Security authorities received unequivocal instructions’
Meanwhile, Sharon also addressed anti-pullout protests and said Israel would not agree to roads being blocked and security officers being attacked by disengagement objectors.
“The IDF and the police will display their readiness, “he said. “They received unequivocal instructions from me not to allow this unruly behavior.”
During the discussion, Knesset Member Ephraim Sneh asked about the public relations and financial damage stemming from the decision to raze evacuees homes.
“What’s the operational justification for this decision?” he said.
In response, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the government decided to demolish the structures and noted the clearing of the debris would take three months.
“The possibility that the clearing of the debris would be done by the Palestinians has been examined,” he said. “We’re engaged in dialogue regarding the matter. I’m slated to meet with the Palestinian side this week and thoroughly look into the matter.”
