Disengagement underway

Tonight at midnight, a year and two months after the government made its "historic decision," in the words of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel's disengagement from Gush Katif and the Gaza Strip will commence. The evacuation begins after a long period of struggle -- bitter, public, heart-wrenching and violent -- a period in which the nation of Israel was torn in two: those who supported disengagement, and those who opposed it, left against right, religious against secular. Many view this as the most significant moment in the history of the State, because for the first time, Israel is unilaterally evacuating settlements.

On June 6, 2004, government decision No. 1996, (which was proposed by Sharon), approved the plan according to which the settlements of Gush Katif and Northern Samaria would be evacuated. Initially, it was decided to conduct preparatory studies, after which the government would re-convene for a separate discussion to decide on whether to evacuate settlements, and if so, which settlements, and how quickly. The disengagement plan was preceded by an exchange of letters between US President George W. Bush, and Sharon.

The disengagement plan essentially began with Bush's vision for Israel, in which Israel was committed to the peace process, and aspired to reach an arrangement, agreed upon by all sides. Sharon's outlook, by contrast, was that Israel had concluded it had no partner in the Palestinians for bilateral advancement in the peace process

Sharon became convinced there was no partnership during the second intifada, when brutal attacks against Israelis were repeatedly ordered by then-Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat. The disengagement plan was formulated at that time out of a basic assumption that continuing the situation was damaging to Israeli interests. The authors presented a plan intended to improve Israel's conditions in terms of defense and security, diplomacy, economics, and demographics.

The plan also made decision in principle that would apply to all future permanent arrangements: Israeli would no longer settle the Gaza Strip. On the other hand, it was clear that in certain areas of Judea and Samaria, some key settlements would remain and become part of the State of Israel.

Under the disengagement plan, settlements slated for evacuation were separated into four group:

• Group A: Morag, Nezarim and Kar Darom;
• Group B: Northern Samaria (Gannim, Kaddim, Sa-Nur, and Homesh);
• Group C: Gush Katif (11 settlements);
• Group D: Northern Gaza Strip (Elei Sinai, Dugit, and Nissanit)

  By government decree, Israel will evacuate the Gaza Strip and the settlements therein, and regroup outside the territory of the Gaza Strip, excluding the military border post between the Gaza Strip and Egypt (the Philadelphi axis). Upon completion of the process, there will be no permanent Israeli security force presence in the evacuated areas of the Gaza Strip. Similarly, Israel will evacuate the area of Northern Samaria, including all military installations, and regroup outside the evacuated area.

  The process will enable territorial continuity for the Palestinians in Northern Samaria. Israel's disengagement, both civilian and military, is scheduled for completion by September.

  Also by government decree, residences and so-called "sensitive" structures (such as synagogues) will not remain standing, and will be destroyed before disengagement. Israel will transfer the control of other types of structures, e.g., industrial, commercial, agricultural, to a third, international party. The third party will make use of the structures to benefit the Palestinian people. Management of the Erez Industrial Zone will be transferred to an agreed-upon party, either Palestinian or international.

  Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Sunday, August 14, 2005