Israeli police early Tuesday were placed on a rare "state of emergency alert," the highest alert status, as leaders of the mass anti-pullout protest vowed to continue the activity later in the day.

About 20,000 anti-pullout protesters Monday gathered in Israeli southern town of Netivot and started to march towards Gaza later in the day to protest against the pullout from Gaza and part of the West Bank.

The march is scheduled to last three days and will draw about 20,000 to 30,000 people.

Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra said Tuesday that "the issue that most concerns us is that we see to it that no one will reach Gush Katif. That is the goal."

More than 10,000 police and troops are to mobilize all of their forces, with officers returning from leaves and working longer shifts, to cover duties nationwide to seek to prevent demonstrators from breaking through roadblocks.

Fearing that the marchers would realize their goal of reaching Gush Katif and thus obstructing the planned disengagement, the government last week declared the Gaza Strip off-limits to non- resident Israelis.

Zviki Bar-Hai, one of the leaders of the protesters, indicated Tuesday that they were determined to link up with the settlers inside the Strip.

"Our plan is to continue on towards Gush Katif today," Bar-Hai said, adding that the marchers will not have confrontations with the soldiers.

Protest leaders said Tuesday that the march would probably continue in the evening.

The government is also anxious to dampen public outcry over its handling of the protests, especially in view of a Knesset (parliament) vote Wednesday over a right-wing proposal to postpone the disengagement scheduled for mid-August.

Meanwhile, the police and the marchers began discussions at midnight after settler leaders announced plans to continue their march on Tuesday morning.

However, having held meetings until around 5 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Tuesday without results, the parties said they would resume the talks at 10 a.m. (0700 GMT), Israel Radio reported.

Following the conclusion of the demonstrators' "engagement gathering" at Netivot, security forces stopped the marchers, most of whom did not clash with police.

Police chief Moshe Karadi said his forces were determined to prevent demonstrators from reaching Gush Katif and disrupting the disengagement.

Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra said the police would, under no circumstances, allow further movement westward toward the bloc.

Settler leaders, however, announced they had no intention of halting their protest.

Source: Xinhua