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Israel’s Disengagement Plan

What are the historical origins of the current situation?
Victory in the 1967 Six Day War, a war of self-defense, brought the West Bank and the Gaza Strip under Israel’s administration.

What are the key provisions of the disengagement plan, and when will it begin?

Disengagement is planned to begin on August 15^th.

· Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip (21 settlements) and from four settlements in the northern West Bank.

· Israel will work, together with the international community, to facilitate Palestinian economic activity.

· Israel will continue to build the security barrier.

· Israel has passed legislation regarding relocation and compensation for settlers. Although plans are not yet final, it seems that replacement housing will be built on the seacoast north of Gaza.

How many Israelis are living in the areas affected by disengagement?

Between 8-9,000 Jews live in Gaza. A few hundred live in the 4 small settlements due to be evacuated in the West Bank.

Why has the Israeli government decided on disengagement?

In order to break out of what was seen as a harmful stalemate, Israel decided to initiate moves not dependent on Palestinian cooperation. Voluntary disengagement was seen by Israel as an act that would “lead to a better security, political, economic and demographic situation.”

What is the state of public opinion in Israel regarding disengagement?

Supporters of disengagement stress that although they feel pain at this difficult decision and understand that there are risks involved, they believe that these are risks that must be taken in the pursuit of peace and to preserve the democratic nature of the nation. A June public opinion poll by the Harry Truman Institute of Hebrew University showed that although Israeli support for the disengagement plan has declined, 53% of Israelis support the disengagement plan and 39% oppose it. In the previous survey in March, 65% supported the plan. It is reported that 25% of the settlers sampled support the disengagement.

Some opponents of the plan base this position on the belief that disengagement will lead to intolerable security risks. In addition, there are many Israelis who feel betrayed by the government decision. They argue that three generations of Israelis were encouraged to settle in Gaza by the Israeli government for strategic reasons, and they believe that these reasons are still valid. Some of the settlers came for ideological and religious reasons and they and their supporters believe that Gaza is an integral part of the state of Israel. Many families have worked their entire lives to establish businesses, schools and synagogues in their communities. Their dead are buried in cemeteries in Gaza.

What plans have been made for moving settlers from their homes?

IDF soldiers will be used to enforce security. Police, with some assistance from the army troops, will actually remove the settlers from their homes. Because no military vehicle is to be involved in the removal of the settlers' possessions, the Defense Ministry will contract for hundreds of civilian cranes, tractor-trailers, and heavy bulldozers. IDF Rabbinate members will accompany the police, in order to remove mezuzot (prayer scrolls) from all of the doorposts of the emptied buildings and to supervise the reburial of those buried in Gaza cemeteries.

Has there been coordination with the Palestinian Authority?

Israel has tried to coordinate the withdrawal with the Palestinians but the absence of a strong central Palestinian Authority, capable of reining in extremists, has made an orderly handover of the areas to be evacuated impossible.

Is it true that the existing homes will be torn down?

The decision is not yet final. If the decision is made to tear down the houses, it will be a response to the Palestinian position that the existing buildings, which in Gaza house only about 8-9000 people, are not a cost effective use of land in one of the most densely populated places on earth.

Wht will the response be to violent protest on the part of settlers or their supporters?

To cut down on protesters, the Gaza strip was made “out of bounds” for non-residents. While recognizing the anguish that may motivate protestors, the Israeli government has made clear that it will not allow violence as a response to policies undertaken by the democratically elected Israeli government.

Does leaving Gaza set a precedent for future Israeli withdrawal from all of the West Bank?

The Israeli government position is that, in contrast to the areas involved in the present disengagement, there are areas in the West Bank that will remain a permanent part of the State of Israel, including cities, towns and villages, security areas and installations. An estimated 80 percent of the settlements in the West Bank are, in effect, suburbs of major Israeli cities such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. These are areas that an overwhelming majority of Israelis believe Israel must retain to ensure its security, a position endorsed by the Bush and Clinton administrations.

Does the withdrawal from Gaza reward the terrorists and invite more terrorism?

Nearly 100 suicide bombers infiltrated into Israel during the past four years, but only two of them came from Gaza. Terrorist groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad never made Gaza disengagement an objective and therefore cannot claim any victory. In fact, those terrorist groups that reject a ‘two state’ solution saw the continued presence of Israelis in Gaza as a step in the direction of what they desired, a ‘one state’ solution.

How will the Israeli government respond if there are increased terrorist actions as disengagement draws near?

Israel has an obligation to defend its citizens, and will not tolerate a campaign of terrorism waged against its people. As it has recently shown, in the absence of effective actions on the part of the PA to stop the mortar and rocket fire on Israeli communities, Israel will take the initiative, and will do whatever is necessary to stem the rocket fire. Israel will not, however, allow the terrorist organizations to determine the fate of the disengagement initiative.

What will be the Security Situation Following the Relocation?

The Gaza Strip:

The government has made clear that “the State of Israel will guard and monitor the external land perimeter of the Gaza Strip, will continue to maintain exclusive authority in Gaza air space, and will continue to exercise security activity in the sea off the coast of the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip will be demilitarized and Israel reserves its fundamental right of self-defense, both preventive and reactive, including where necessary the use of force, in response to threats from the Gaza Strip”.

The West Bank:

After evacuation from the four settlements, no Israeli military presence will remain in the area. However, Israel reserves its fundamental right of self-defense, both preventive and reactive, including where necessary the use of force, in respect of threats from the evacuated area.

What is Israel’s expectation of the Palestinian Authority?

· Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas must take advantage of this opening for peace by confronting extremist Palestinian groups and by taking decisive measures to dismantle their capacity to engage in terrorism.

· The PA must disarm the terrorist groups and infrastructure.

· There must be a serious commitment on the part of the PA to end incitement to violence, hatred and anti-Semitism in its media, mosques and schools.

The Israeli government has stated that if and when there is evidence from the Palestinian side of its “willingness, capability and implementation in practice of the fight against terrorism, full cessation of terrorism and violence and reform as required by the Road Map, it will be possible to return to the track of negotiation and dialogue”.

What has been the response of the United States government to disengagement?

In a letter from President Bush to Prime Minister Sharon dated April 14, 2005, President Bush stated: “We welcome the disengagement plan you have prepared... These steps described in the plan will mark real progress toward realizing my June 24, 2002 vision, and make a real contribution towards peace..”

What has been the response of the American public?

A July 11, 2005 Anti-Defamation League survey reveals that the American people continue to stand solidly behind Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and overwhelmingly view Israel’s disengagement plan as a “bold step towards peace.”

What is the role of the United States in building on disengagement in order to achieve a comprehensive and durable peace?

The United States has reaffirmed that it is strongly committed to Israel's security and well-being as a Jewish state and, it will work across the region to achieve an end to hate and to the rejection of Israel’s right to exist. The president has stated that “the United States will lead efforts, working together with Jordan, Egypt, and others in the international community, to build the capacity and will of Palestinian institutions to fight terrorism, dismantle terrorist organizations, and prevent the areas from which Israel has withdrawn from posing a threat that would have to be addressed by any other means.” The United States has also undertaken to support democracy, security, economic empowerment, non-proliferation, stability and reform in the Palestinian territories.

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#12 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146-5776 E-mail jcrcstl@jcrcstl.org 314-442-3871