Security forces across Israel have blocked thousands of rightist protesters from heading toward Gaza's main Jewish settlement bloc for a march aimed at impeding the evacuation of the enclaves set for next month.
Israeli officials, citing fears of violent disturbances, deployed 20,000 police and soldiers to prevent opponents of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's pullout plan from reaching staging areas in southern Israel.
Settlers and their supporters had vowed to defy a ban on the protest, which was due to begin today with a mass rally in the desert town of Netivot and end on Wednesday with a march to the crossing point to the Gush Katif bloc in occupied Gaza.
But police commander Amihai Shai said a decision was made "to stop buses at the outset throughout the country . . . so that only a small number reach the south so we can deal with them in the most effective way and minimise confrontation".
The protest would have meant a major showdown between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and opponents of his plan, which he has billed as "disengagement" from conflict with the Palestinians.
Last Wednesday, Mr Sharon ordered all 21 Gaza settlements sealed off to non-residents to prevent Israeli ultranationalists from pouring in to disrupt the planned evacuation.