Militants fire rockets at Jewish settlement

PALESTINIAN militants fired two rockets yesterday at a Jewish settlement bloc in the Gaza Strip, with one landing near thousands of Israelis protesting against this summer's planned withdrawal from the area.

An Israeli soldier was lightly hurt by shrapnel.

The attack briefly disrupted the rally meant as a show of support for the settlers being uprooted from an area that Israel has occupied for 38 years. Many of the demonstrators were young families, taking time off from work and school during the Passover holiday.

Gaza settler leaders initially said they expected 100,000 people to turn out for the day-long event. However, police said only about 20,000 people had turned up.

The first rocket landed just outside Neve Dekalim, several dozen yards away from the rally, the army said. Minutes later, a second rocket landed in a residential area of the settlement, causing no injuries, residents said. Associated Press Television News footage showed a rocket sticking out of the ground in a sandy area next to a playground.

Emily Amrussi, a spokeswoman for the settlers, said after the attacks that the event would go on. "Of course we are carrying on," she said. "This ... shows the connection between the Palestinian enemy and (Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon because this is a rally against him."

Some settler leaders have expressed hope the protesters would stay in Gaza to resist the withdrawal. However, Avner Shimon, mayor of the Gaza settlements, said he expected the visitors to leave after Passover. "People are coming to enjoy themselves, see the place and hug us and to tell us they are with us. I estimate that nobody will remain when it is over," he told Israel Army Radio.

Early yesterday, Israeli authorities closed the main crossing into the Gush Katif bloc of settlements to private cars, allowing only buses through. The army also closed a main Palestinian road and took up positions on the roof of a nearby Palestinian factory to protect settlers from militants.

Organisers were selling orange flags and T-shirts, symbols of opposition to the withdrawal. During the day, organisers marched through Gaza's seaside settlements. Many marchers carried orange balloons and wore shirts and hats saying "a Jew doesn't expel a Jew".

Neve Dekalim resident Sylvia Mazuz said the festive atmosphere was misleading. "Our hearts are heavy," said Mazuz, aged 44, who has lived in the settlement for 14 years.

Mazuz, whose husband, four children and grandchildren all live in the settlement, said she has made no preparations for life after withdrawal and remains hopeful that the government will cancel the plan.

"We are waiting for salvation from God," she said.

Under the plan, Israel will withdraw from all 21 Gaza settlements as well as four small settlements in the West Bank.

About 9,000 settlers are to be evacuated from their homes.

During more than four years of fighting, militants have fired thousands of rockets and mortar shells at Gaza settlements, though the number of attacks has fallen sharply since a February 8 ceasefire declaration.