Disengagement from Gaza
Israel’s parliament has voted in favour of Ariel Sharon’s controversial 'disengagement plan' to withdraw Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip.
That sounds like good news for the Palestinian people who will get their land back – right? Unfortunately it’s not that simple and it’s not necessarily that good either. Read on to understand why.
The good news
The unilateral 'disengagement plan' announced by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Bush earlier this year and now approved by the Israeli Knesset is the first time the Israeli government has voted on the principle of removing settlers from occupied Palestinian land.
The plan will see the evacuation of all 21 Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip housing 7,500 people and built on land occupied in 1967.
The plan will see the evacuation of all 21 Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip housing 7,500 people and built on land occupied in 1967.
The less good news
But Israel will retain full control of the Gaza Strip’s airspace, coastline and borders, and Israeli troops will be able to re-enter at any time.
While many Palestinians welcome the evacuation of the settlements, it remains to be seen whether it will mean any improvement in quality of life
While many Palestinians welcome the evacuation of the settlements, it remains to be seen whether it will mean any improvement in quality of life for the impoverished population of Gaza, where poverty levels exceed 80 per cent.
A seige economy?
With no control over borders and the instability of military incursions, Palestinian trade relations will not improve and will remain severely hampered. Many feel the Gaza Strip, 12km at its widest point, will remain effectively under siege.
Alongside withdrawal from Gaza, Israel will dismantle four smaller settlements in the West Bank but retain control over the 120 settlements built on 42 per cent of the West Bank, housing 236,000 Israeli settlers and a further 177,000 settlers in East Jerusalem. The plan also rules out the prospect of return for Palestinian refugees.
Alongside withdrawal from Gaza, Israel will dismantle four smaller settlements in the West Bank but retain control over the 120 settlements built on 42 per cent of the West Bank, housing 236,000 Israeli settlers and a further 177,000 settlers in East Jerusalem. The plan also rules out the prospect of return for Palestinian refugees.
The official position
The UK government’s official position is that:
'…a just resolution of the refugee issue must be agreed consistent with UN General Assembly Resolution 194 (1948), which calls for the right of return, and compensation, for Palestinian refugees.'
'…a just resolution of the refugee issue must be agreed consistent with UN General Assembly Resolution 194 (1948), which calls for the right of return, and compensation, for Palestinian refugees.'
Unilateral settlement
US backing of the Sharon plan without negotiation with the Palestinian leadership has been met by widespread criticism.
'It is a tragedy that a so-called settlement has been reached without one of the two parties involved being present in negotiations.'
Bernard Sabella of the Middle East Council of Churches, a Christian Aid partner operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, said:
'It is a tragedy that a so-called settlement has been reached without one of the two parties involved being present in negotiations.'
In response to the announcement, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he hoped Israeli withdrawal would revive peace efforts.
He added that it was a step towards a process 'that will eventually result in the end of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, paving the way for the establishment of a sovereign, democratic, viable and contiguous Palestinian state living side by side in peace with a secure Israel.'
'It is a tragedy that a so-called settlement has been reached without one of the two parties involved being present in negotiations.'
In response to the announcement, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he hoped Israeli withdrawal would revive peace efforts.
He added that it was a step towards a process 'that will eventually result in the end of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, paving the way for the establishment of a sovereign, democratic, viable and contiguous Palestinian state living side by side in peace with a secure Israel.'
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