Retired Supreme Court justice: Disengagement is 'a crime and a folly'

Retired Supreme Court justice Zvi Tal slammed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan as a "crime" and a "folly" in comments he made Thursday.

"Uprooting a calm civilian population is an injustice and an act that should not be carried out under any circumstances. This move is not only a crime, but also a folly," he said during his visit to a tent pitched by students protesting against the disengagement across from the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.

Tal also said "there is no value that can justify the uprooting, especially seeing the opposite party does not make any gestures in return. The word 'plan' is inappropriate to describe this move. Harsh decree is more appropriate."

Also on Thursday, 22 demonstrators were indicted after blocking roads Monday to protest the disengagement. Four youths who participated in the demonstrations were also indicted at Be'er Sheva District Court. All four refused to identify themselves to the judges, and the indictment was entitled "The State of Israel vs. Anonymous."

The four unidentified youths are charged with disrupting order, preventing a police officer from carrying out his duty, and insulting a civil servant. The indictment alleges that they refused to clear off the road they were blocking, kicked several policemen and wounded two of them. One of the suspects is charged with aggravated assault of a policemen. The suspects told their attorney they did not assault any officers.

Sixteen minors were indicted Thursday at the Tel Aviv Juvenile Magistrate's Court for blocking the Morasha intersection on Monday.

Two more protesters were charged Thursday with assaulting a policeman during a Monday riot in Bat Yam. They were indicted at Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court.