Israeli police is considering asking the public to stay home during the intended pullout from the Gaza Strip, a step to be taken if disengagement foes succeed in extensively disrupt public order, the Jerusalem Post reported.
‘The police will not be able to handle everything that will be going on in the country,’ a high-ranking officer said. ‘If 10 major roads are blocked simultaneously, we may decide to call on the public to just stay indoors and not leave their homes.’
The police has to decided to what level it will demand people to stay home. It has to be clear whether people can go to work, or go shopping for example. Local observers believe that the fact that the police is mulling this issue, reflects the severity of the disturbances it expects during the pullout by the anti-disengagement far-right wingers.
What makes the job harder is that police and army has also to deal with calls by prominent rabbis who are calling soldiers and police not to cooperate with the state in evacuating the settlements.
Such calls might require the Israeli security establishment to recruit more troops and police to make up for those who will not cooperate.
Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra has said that police would not be able to provide efficient service during the evacuation, when close to half the force would be in the Gaza Strip.
‘Completing the evacuation from Gush Katif is the police’s No. 1 priority,’ he has said. ‘If right-wing activists block roads, people will just be stuck in traffic.’
The far-right has announced plans to escalate its anti-disengagement activities during the evacuation and will not only try to block roads, but also to cut off water and electricity in major cities.
The police expect there will be unannounced activities that will be surprising for them.
‘This summer will be full of surprises,’ one police officer said. ‘We will not be able to control everything that will be going on, and if roads are blocked, we will not transfer forces from Gaza to disperse the crowds.’ÂÂ
