OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 16 February 2004 — Jewish settlers, accusing Ariel Sharon of betraying them, began a four-day march yesterday from the Gaza Strip to the prime minister’s Jerusalem home to protest against his plans to uproot them.
“The prime minister, who just two years ago was known as the father of settlements, has lost his way, and we hope with God’s help to put him back on track,” Lior Kalfa, part of the group of about 100 marchers, told Israel Radio.
Sharon revealed plans earlier this month to remove 17 of the 21 Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip as part of the unilateral moves he has threatened should a US-backed road map charting a path to peace with the Palestinians fail.
The right-wing leader has said his proposal would also include drawing a “security line” on occupied West Bank territory that would leave the Palestinians with less land for a state than they might have got through negotiations.
The protesters marched in pouring rain, holding Israeli flags and banners saying: “Settlement evacuation equals victory for terrorism”, a reference to warnings by Israel’s Army intelligence chief that Palestinian militant groups would view move out of Gaza as a victory.
“We feel the people are with us. We received dozens of phone calls from people who wanted to join (the march),” Kalfa said. “But because of police restrictions, only dozens could participate.”
