Herut Party Candidate Eli Yosef Resumes Hunger Strike, Protest Near Prime Minister's Residence
2006-03-13
Herut Party candidate Eli Yosef, a leading activist who serves in the sixth position on the Party's list for Knesset, has resumed his hunger strike in protest of last summer's Disengagement from Gaza.

Yosef and a friend entered their fourth week of the strike this week after returning from a brief stint on Reserve Duty. They fast six days a week and protest one hour a day outside the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem. They also distribute flyers describing their views.

According to Yosef, the Disengagment has produced a crisis of confidence between the settlers and Israel's security forces.

"The images from the Disengagement, the excessive violence, the decisions of the government--all convinced me to proceed with this hunger strike," said Yosef. "It symbolizes the need to bring all sides together." Yosef criticized the government for its "condescension" toward settlers and the anti-settler mood that resulted in the most recent clash in Amona.

Yosef said his hunger strike is also meant to promote four key principles:
That all future Israeli disengagements must be decided via public referendum; that no further lands should be transfered without thorough and comprehensive services for displaced Israeli citizens' guaranteeing their proper and fair relocation and compensation; that Israeli disengagement forces will not employ physical force against Israeli citizens, nor will the Israelis being displaced.

"We, like Herut, believe that the most authentic force is the force of persuasion," said Yosef. "One must listen, with humility, to all sides. After all, we are brothers."

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