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A Jewish Community Relations (JCRC) Guide to
Israel’s Disengagement Plan
August 2005

What are the historical origins of the current situation?

Israel’s victory in the 1967 Six Day war brought the West Bank and Gaza Strip under Israel’s administration.  Neither the West Bank (which was unilaterally annexed by Jordan) nor Gaza (which was administered and controlled by Egypt) were sovereign entities. This was a self-defensive war in which Israel responded to war provocations by five neighboring Arab states. 

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

Disengagement is planned to begin between Aug. 15 and 17 and is expected to take about a month                 

• Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip (21 settlements) and from four settlements in the northern West Bank, removing both the military and civilian presence in both areas.

• Israel will work, together with the international community, to facilitate Palestinian economic activity.  This will be done by transferring existing economic infrastructure to the Palestinians and coordinating joint economic ventures. 

• Israel will continue to build the security barrier so that Israel can continue to provide security to its citizens while minimizing its interference in Palestinian affairs. 

• 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 8,000-9,000 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?

The disengagement initiative was conceived during a period where Yasser Arafat presided over the Palestinian Authority and proved not to be partner in seeking peace. In order to break the violent stalemate, Israel decided to initiate moves independent of 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 still support the disengagement plan and 39% oppose it. July public opinion polls range from 53% in favor (Kol Yisrael poll) to 62% (Yediot Achranot poll).  A clear majority of Israelis are in support of disengagement. 

Some opponents of the plan base their position on the belief that disengagement will lead to intolerable security risks. After all, the central tenet of the Israeli negotiating position has been to trade land in return for security assurances.  The risk in disengagement, they claim, is that Israel transfers land to the Palestinians but receives no security guarantees in return.  In addition, many families have worked their entire lives to establish businesses, schools and synagogues in their communities and their dead are buried in cemeteries there. They argue that three generations of Israelis were encouraged to settle in Gaza by the Israeli government for strategic reasons that they still believe are valid.  Some of the settlers came for ideological and religious reasons as they believe that Gaza and the West Bank are integral parts of the state of Israel.

  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.

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

The Palestinian Authority leadership has requested that Israel demolish the homes evacuated by settlers so that more appropriate multi-family housing can be built for Gazan residents.

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

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. To enable the disengagement to be implemented smoothly, the Gaza strip was made “out of bounds” for non-residents in mid-July.

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?

Of the hundreds suicide bombers that infiltrated into Israel during the past four years, only a few 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, like any state, 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”.  It should be noted that plans for the construction of a Gaza seaport have been approved and will be implemented after disengagement. Furthermore, Israel has reached an agreement with Egypt whereby Egypt will deploy 750 border security personnel along the Egyptian-Gaza border. 

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 implementing his presidential campaign mantra of “one authority, one law, one gun.”  Under his leadership, the PA must disarm the terrorist groups and infrastructure.
• Abbas must remain committed to continuing political reform of the Palestinian Authority to assure a transparent governing democracy in Palestinian-controlled territories. 
• 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 is the expectation of neighboring Arab states?

Israel’s peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan have remained intact, even after the violence caused by the Intifada. Strategically, Egypt and Jordan are leaders in the Arab world and Israel’s allies in helping to work for peace with the Palestinians. These states can help improve security, local economies and help to prevent instability in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Egyptian and Jordanian support in these areas can help improve the climate between Israel and the Palestinians after the disengagement. Additionally, Israel’s peace with these states assures that no hostile Arab coalition can challenge Israel’s security

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. President Bush 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 U.S. has also undertaken to support democracy, security, economic empowerment, non-proliferation, stability and reform in the Palestinian territories.

• Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice has already made three visits to Jerusalem and Ramallah since she became secretary of state in February, proving the U.S. commitment to Israel’s disengagement and interest that it is implemented. 
• President Bush appointed Lt. Gen. William Ward to help oversee the reform of the Palestinian security services. 
• The U.S. Congress approved $350 million in aid to the Palestinians, both the PA and the Palestinian people, to help rebuild Gaza after Israel’s disengagement.
• The U.S. and Israel are currently in negotiation for allocating aid to Israel to assist in the development of the Negev and Galilee regions—two areas inside Israel’s pre-1967 border. 

Approved August 2005