Israeli protesters abandon Gaza march

[Scurrilous]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/403B3698-32F6-4942-857A-81CEFB3A9B2E.htm

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"Hardline Israelis have abandoned their attempt to reach Gaza's Jewish settlements after police blocked their march aimed at hampering the planned evacuation of the occupied strip.

In an earlier blow to efforts to block Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's withdrawal plan, the Israeli parliament on Wednesday voted against delaying the pullout due to start next month from all 21 Gaza settlements and four of the 120 in the West Bank.

Led by ultranationalist rabbis, the 6000 or so protesters -penned into Kfar Maimon village for three days in the desert heat - massed at the gates but backed away from the biggest confrontation yet in a state polarised by the plan."

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"After abandoning the march on Wednesday, settler leaders said they still hoped to get thousands of people into the settlements by mid-August to reinforce the 8500 who are due to be evacuated."