Maariv survey: 40% of Israelis want to leave Gaza unconditionally. Large Left wing demonstration Saturday night in Tel Aviv. A Maariv survey shows that 79 percent of Israelis support withdrawing from Gaza. Of those that took part in the survey, 40 percent say they want Israel out of Gaza immediately with or without an agreement, 39 percent said they want Israel to leave Gaza but only if an agreement with the Palestinians is reached. Prime Minister Ariel Sharons disengagement plan was supported by 58 percent of those asked who said they would vote in favor of the plan if presented in a national referendum. A large scale left wing demonstration will be held in Tel-Aviv at Rabin square Saturday night. The events organizers hope over 100 thousand people will show up. This is going to be the most important rally in the history of the Israeli left, said Hemi Sal one of the demonstrations organizers. Chairman of the Labor Party, Shimon Peres and architects of the Geneva initiative are expected to speak at the event. The timing of the demonstration was still debated Thursday night. It was originally planned after Prime Minister Sharon lost the Likud referendum on Gaza withdrawal but has taken on a macabre edge following this weeks attacks where 11 IDF soldiers were killed within two days in Gaza. Right wing leaders asked the demonstrations organizers to postpone the event until the mourning period for the 11 soldiers killed is over. The left sharply refused the request.
Peres approached the Peace Now movement and asked them to keep a low profile and tone down the demonstration after pictures published Thursday of Israeli flags shaped like coffins under a plea to attend the demonstration. Sources at the Prime Ministers office said the demonstration would be good for the disengagement plan and for Ariel Sharon. Likud members will now realize that by voting against the disengagement plan they have woken up the Israeli left, the sources said. About 1000 police officers, 300 security guards and undercover forces backed up with snipers are to secure the demonstration. BPI.
