Approximately 20,000 right wing Israeli protesters gathered in the Israeli town of Netivot Monday evening despite a ban on demonstrations in the Gaza Strip. The settlers and their supporters were protesting Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip scheduled to begin next month.
Israeli forces prevented the settlers from entering Gaza. The protesters intended to march to the Gush Katif settlement block in Gaza but they were stopped shortly after they started to march. No violence was reported.
The protesters wore orange which is the color of their movement and shouted as Israeli security forces to disobey orders to remove them when the withdrawal begins.
Israel deployed approximately 20,000 soldiers to prevent the marchers from entering Gaza.
Police commissioner Moshe Karadi told the Associated Press, 'When it became apparent that the participants would use this event as a platform to disrupt the evacuation by establishing a human block and attempting to enter Gush Katif, I decided to prohibit it.'
Almost all of the protesters were Orthodox Jews. In fact, there was a barrier to separate men and women protesters from each other in accordance with their custom.
Meanwhile, Egypt continues to mediate negotiations between the PA and militant Palestinian groups. There was less rocket fire reported today but attacks on Israel did continue. Some progress in the talks was reported.
Israel has troops at the border of Gaza at the ready if the attacks continue.
Israeli Vice Premier Ehud Olmert remained hopeful that Israeli troops would not have to enter Gaza to stop the attacks. 'If he will stop it, we will not have to interfere,' Olmert said.
