The Arab Palestinians who have been used as a pawn by the Muslim countries (who refuse to absorb them into their own countries) surrounding Israel as an excuse to brand Israel as “occupiers.” So, once again, in an effort to establish “peace” with the Palestinians, 2 years ago:
Israel evacuated all 9,000 Israelis living in Gaza and four northern West Bank communities in an effort to pave the way for peace and a future Palestinian state. During the disengagement, Israel uprooted entire communities including schools, businesses, places of worship and the only Jewish cemetery there.
So, did this, essentiallly unilateral act of good faith, lead to “peace” for the Palestinians?
Not exactly.
In return for this painful sacrifice, which Israel carried out Aug. 15, 2005, Gaza has been converted into a launching pad for rockets. Since the withdrawal, more than 1,500 Qassam rockets have been fired into Israel’s southern Negev region. The attacks have killed six civilians and injured hundreds more and hit areas where Gaza evacuees were relocated.
Iran-backed Hamas has been chiefly responsible for the Qassam attacks, but other Palestinian militant groups also have taken credit, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Fatah party’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees. These groups, along with Hamas, have continued to launch Qassam rockets and mortars at Israel on an almost daily basis since disengagement. During a particularly violent period — May 15 to May 31, 2007 — more than 300 Qassam rockets were launched from Gaza at Israel.
Have the Palestinians been any safer now that the “occupiers” evacuated from Gaza and 4 West bank settlements?
Overall, Palestinian internal violence has dramatically increased in the past two years. During the first seven months of 2007 alone, 415 Palestinians were killed, including 28 children, and another 2,022 Palestinians were injured – all at the hands of other Palestinians
And what of the plight of the 9000 evacuees who fled their homes, businesses, and lives to make way for “peace?”
Psychologically: Gush Katif evacuees, subject to continuing financial and social difficulties, are increasingly seeking mental and emotional support
Physically:Research at the Ashkelon Regional Health Bureau and Ashkelon’s Barzilai Medical Center has shown a notable rise in deaths among the evacuees; Their findings also show that former residents are suffering from a significant increase in medical maladies including cancerous growths, heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma attacks.
Economically: Evacuees continue to be affected by a very high rate of unemployment, currently 37 percent (about 1,450 people), according to the SELA Disengagement Authority;
Here is the entire article and time line.
Among Islamic countries there is no desire to live “side by side” Israel. The goal is to destroy her. I believe that it was a big mistake for Israel to cede control of Gaza and portions of the Weest Bank. It has not led to the promised “peace.” And it has not made the Israeli people any safer. The only thing that the Islamists understand is raw power and force. Israel should quit paying lip service to “peace” with their surrounding neighbors who for the most part don’t even acknowledge their right to exist as a sovereign nation. On the bright side, perhpas this farcical “peace plan” (disengagement from Gaza) will finally make clear the absurdity of such endeavors. Perhaps people will come to finally understand that a significant portion of the Arab world’s definition of “peace” is not living “peacefully side by side Israel” but the total destruction of the Jewish people of Israel. Plain and simple.