Gaza Disengagement - Ariel Sharon’s Folly

Mr. Sharon’s Gaza Disengagement plans have a possibility of pushing Israel into a vortex of violence. First, because the decision to unilaterally retreat from Gaza took place in the context of heightened violence against Israelis, it vindicates those Palestinian voices arguing for terrorism. The Gaza retreat is, in plain words, a military defeat. It follows on the ignominious Israeli abandonment of its positions and its allies in Lebanon in May 2000, a move which much eroded Arab respect for Israeli strength, with dire consequences.

What the Israeli retreat from South Lebanon did to revitalize the Heazbollah, the Gaza retreat will do to revitalize the Hamas, which will start baying for Jewish blood.

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The Gaza withdrawal will almost certainly increase Palestinian reliance on terrorism. As it is the Hamas has swept the local elections in Gaza, and when the Presidential elections are held next time around, Abbas would come a distant second, if he at all contests the elections. But then he would have become irrelevant.

Second, the Gaza retreat is heating up the political climate within Israel, bringing back the dangerous mood of exaggeration, incivility, hostility, and even lawlessness. The prospect of thousands of Israelis evicted from their homes under threat of force is rudely interrupting what had been a trend toward a healthier atmosphere during the relative calm of 2001-03.

And in another way, Mr. Sharon’s plans are worse than Oslo; at least that disaster was carried out by the clueless Left. A Right - led by Mr. Sharon — valiantly and staunchly opposed it. This time, it is the Right’s hero who, allied with the far-Left, is himself leading the charge, reducing the opposition to marginality.

There are many theories for what reversed Mr. Sharon’s views on the matter of a unilateral Gaza withdrawal in the 10 months between February and December 2003, but whatever the reason, its consequences are clear.

Mr. Sharon betrayed the voters who supported him, wounding Israeli democracy. He divided Israeli society in ways that may poison the body politic for decades hence. He aborted his own successful policies vis-a-vis the Palestinians. He delivered Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim rejectionists their greatest boost ever. And he failed his American ally by delivering a major victory to the forces of terrorism.

With the Gaza Disengagement Plan Sharon is allowing a tiger to taste blood! The results can only be disastrous for Israel for the fallout will be felt across the civilized world.

Story Credit: Danielpipes.org and Little green Footballs