MIDDLE EAST: POLICE BREAK UP SETTLERS' DEMONSTRATION
(25 Oct 1998) Natural Sound Israeli settlers, blocked roads across the West Bank on Sunday in protest at the latest middle east peace deal. About 50 Israelis rushed past Israeli police and sat cross-legged on the highway next to Ofra settlement north of Jerusalem, blocking traffic and refusing to move. Militant Jewish settlers are insisting they'll try to throw out the government of Benjamin Netanyahu for agreeing to hand over further land to the Palestinians. But while Israeli police were on heightened alert at roadside checkpoints, they also allowed an extra 20-thousand Palestinian workers from the West Bank and Gaza to enter Israel. Jewish settlers are threatening to block the new Middle East peace accord from taking effect by a series of road blockades through the West Bank. They're saying the agreement to cede 13 per cent of West Bank to Yasser Arafat's authority threatens their very existence. Settler leaders think they can stop troop withdrawals from the ceded land through political manoeuvering and mass protests. In one such protest on Sunday they sat cross legged and defiant at Ofra until they were forcibly moved on by Israeli police. There were similar demonstrations throughout the West Bank. Police, with orders to keep the roads open, arrested 31 demonstrators - according to Aaron Domb, Head of the Settlers' Council. The Jewish settlers have also vowed to try to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for signing the peace accord. Many feel betrayed by Netanyahu. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We dreamt for two-thousand years and we expected to return to this land - we love it - and now we are endangered to have to leave it. It's a very sad day for us." SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop, Nathanel, Jewish settler Hard-line settlers say they can delay the Israeli withdrawal, which is supposed to occur over 12 weeks, for months through political manoeuvering and mass protests. Maps for the troop withdrawal have not been made public, but it is thought the move will isolate up to 15 Jewish settlements. If so, the settlers likely would respond by trying to expand and reinforce those communities. Such actions would be likely to spark clashes with Palestinians. Settlers are likely to focus on the political front, trying to bring down Netanyahu's government and force early elections. The settlers say their supporters in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, will withdraw their support from the prime minister and force a vote of confidence. The protests took place as Prime Minister Netanyahu was on his way home from Washington and the signing of the controversial accord. Meanwhile, his police forces were on alert for possible attacks by Palestinian extremists opposed to the accord. Numerous road blocks were set up, like this one in Aram near Ramallah, to check the identification of incoming drivers and passengers. But at the same time, the ripple effects of the peace accord and the message - from the leaders at least - for greater cooperation could also be seen. Starting on Sunday morning, Israelis allowed an extra 20-thousand Palestinian workers from the West Bank and Gaza to come into Israel, bringing their total numbers there to 54-thousand. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
