Gaza settlers protest planned pull-out
{{date|May 12, 2005}}

Israel's Independence Day was marked by protests around [[w:Gaza Strip|Gaza]] as nationalist Israelis rallied against the planned dismantling of 21 settlements in the region. The settlements house 8,500 Jews, surrounded by 1.3 million Palestinians. 

The protests where peaceful as many marched or even held picnics in the settlements. Police estimated a turnout of about 35,000 but organizers estimated 80,000. 

This comes after similar, larger protests against [[w:Ariel Sharon|Ariel Sharon's]] plan to end conflict with the Palestinians over the area.

==More==
-[http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050512/wl_mideast_afp/mideastgazasettlers_050512160433 Jewish settlers reinforce Gaza roots on Israel independence day]

-[http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=142454562&p=y4z455z68 Sharon delays pullout]

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050512/ts_nm/mideast_dc |title=Gaza settlers protest on Israel's Independence Day |author=Ronen Zvulun |pub=Reuters |date=May 12, 2005}}

    
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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Palestine]]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:published]]
[[Category:Ariel Sharon]]
Israel's Independence Day was marked by protests around Gaza as nationalist Israelis rallied against the planned dismantling of 21 settlements in the region. The settlements house 8,500 Jews, surrounded by 1.3 million Palestinians. 

The protests where peaceful as many marched or even held picnics in the settlements. Police estimated a turnout of about 35,000 but organizers estimated 80,000. 

This comes after similar, larger protests against Ariel Sharon's plan to end conflict with the Palestinians over the area.

- Sharon delays pullout
Politics and conflicts Palestine Israel Middle East published Ariel Sharon