A 12-strong group of nationalist Israeli MPs have signed a petition promising to obstruct physically the ”immoral” evacuation of settlers from their homes in the Gaza Strip, Parliament sources said on Thursday.
The petition was drawn up by National Religious Party (NRP) leader Effi Eitam, who quit Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s government in June in opposition to the so-called disengagement plan. The signatories include three other NRP deputies, six members of the National Union and two MPs from Sharon’s own Likud party.
The signatories said they ”undertook to report to Gush Katif [a settlement bloc in southern Gaza] in its hour of need and to prevent with our bodies the immoral and inhuman eviction of thousands of heroic, pioneering settlers”.
They also vowed ”to stand at the head of the camp, to embrace the settlers and to ensure by a determined struggle to preserve the values of Zionism and democratic morality, without violence, humiliation or hatred towards the security forces”.
The petition is the latest manoeuvre by opponents of the plan.
Settler leaders have already threatened a campaign of civil disobedience and called for a siege of Parliament.
Soldiers are also being urged to sign up to a petition stating their intention to refuse orders to take part in the evacuation process, which is due to be completed by September next year.
The 120-seat Israeli Parliament approved the disengagement plan in October by 67 votes to 45. — Sapa-AFP