Human drama unfolds in Jewish Gaza, as residents confront authorities

Jewish World Review ^ | 8-15-05 | Michael Matza, Dion Nissenbaum and Martin Merzer

[SJackson]

‘I am not your enemy,’ former soldier tells his Brig. Gen.

Day One of Israel's retreat

EVE DEKALIM — A day of angry shouts, tearful lamentations and burning tires ended Monday with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon attempting to soothe Israel as it moved toward the climax of its withdrawal from Gaza: forced evictions by soldiers.

"I understand the feelings, the pain and the cries of those who object," Sharon said during a nationally televised address. "However, we are one nation even when fighting and arguing."

His comments followed a scene once considered unimaginable: Israelis delivering to other Israelis eviction notices from a land Israel once hoped to absorb. Sharon, once a key backer of the movement to establish Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, has promoted the withdrawal from Gaza as a way to enhance Israeli security.

The first day of the nation's withdrawal from the overwhelmingly Palestinian territory unfolded in blistering heat with thousands of soldiers and police making their presence apparent, but bypassing some hotbeds of dissent and avoiding confrontation in others.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

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[GladesGuru]

Talk and political posturing will do no good in the Mid East - never have, never will.

Either Israel and the West win a decisive victory over the Arab world or they keep on as they are now doing, killing and taking land a bit at a time.

[Noachian]

...the withdrawal from Gaza as a way to enhance Israeli security.

How does giving land to an enemy "enhance security"?

When the settlers are finally gone, and the arabs take Gaza for their own, what then?

The arabs will use it as they use all their lands: as staging points to kill jews. How does this "enhance security?"

[Realism]

How does giving land to an enemy "enhance security"?

What has holding on to it done for security? It has worked well for S. Lebanon since Israel now has a border to defend incursions are far more obvious and the response is at Israeli discretion.

[meandog]

A question for any Israeli FReepers: The Israeli Constitution guarantees a "Right of Return" for every Jew worldwide...so, where is this tiny country going to put all of its future generations when it gives away land?

Removing these peaceful settlers, who took a previously wasted and barren land (when Palestinians had it it resembled a landfill) and make it bloom, is insane! And, those of you who are liberal Israelis and who believe that Sharon's plan will bring peace to the nation are insane as well ... for Americans who believe the measure is just, I challenge them to immediately give the deeds to their homes to the nearest Native American tribe.

[Noachian]

What has holding on to it done for security?

Then let's wait and see what the arabs do after they take Gaza. There's nothing like arab reality to break up a jewish fantasy.

[Realism]

If things don't work out Sharon is putting himself in the "see, I told you so, now what are you going to do about it" position with the international community. If things do work out he has succeeded where all others have failed.

[Salem]

"Then let's wait and see what the arabs do after they take Gaza. There's nothing like Arab reality to break up a Jewish fantasy."

That's good. I'm going to save that one, with proper attribution of course.

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MikeFromFR ~
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)
Letter To The President In Support Of Israel ~
'Final Solution,' Phase 2 ~
Warnings ~

A student told his professor he was going to "Palestine" to "fight for freedom, peace and justice,"—Orwellian leftist code words that mean "murder Jews."

"Then let's wait and see what the Arabs do after they take Gaza. There's nothing like Arab reality to break up a Jewish fantasy."—FReeper Noachian

A Stab In The Heart [Video]
IsraelNationalNews - A Video on Gush Katif [Video]
The Nature Of Bruce ~

[HighlyOpinionated]

If things don't work out Sharon is putting himself in the "see, I told you so, now what are you going to do about it" position with the international community. If things do work out he has succeeded where all others have failed.

For Sharon it appears to be a "win-win" situation, even as it becomes a lose-lose one for the Israelis.

As an American, I don't want to lose the support of Israel and I certainly do not want the USofA to jeopardize the long friendship it has shared with Israel.

What are the Pro-Israel Protestant organizations saying??

[chimera]

Sharon, once a key backer of the movement to establish Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, has promoted the withdrawal from Gaza as a way to enhance Israeli security

I don't know, maybe it's an incorrect analogy, but when put this way, I can't help feeling haunted by memories of the "peace in our time" Chamberlain-Hitler deal. Just as selling out Czechoslovakia, Austria, and re-militarizing the Rhineland didn't prevent World War II from happening, the spectacle of Jews selling out other Jews probably won't change the minds of the Islamists who have vowed to destroy the state of Israel. I would think that the Israelis, of all people, would understand that appeasement of those who intend to murder you is a losing strategy.