| The Israeli Army and police were deploying in unprecedented numbers yesterday to block an attempt by tens of thousands of settlers and their supporters to march towards doomed Gaza Strip settlements. The government ordered organizers of the rally to change their plans, charging that a mass descent on the main settlement bloc of Gush Katif would be "illegal" and exacerbate the risk of violent clashes. Security sources said 17,000 soldiers and a further 8,000 police were taking part in the operation in southern Israel ahead of the rally today, 15 days before the scheduled start of the pullout of the 8,000 Gaza settlers. |