While many of us were wrapping up our summer jobs, preparing to return to Kingston or enjoying one of our last weekends of the summer, 8,500 Israeli Jews were leaving their homes and disbanding their communities in the interests of a long-desired, long-term peace. In short, Israel was withdrawing from the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Strip—approximately 360 square kilometres—was occupied by Egypt from 1948 until 1967, and was gained by Israel through its victory in the June 1967 “Six Day War.” In February 2004, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon—who fought on the Egyptian front in 1967, winning control of Gaza—announced that Israel would cede istrative control of the Strip.
The decision to withdraw and its implementation were not without controversy. Many of us in Canada are accustomed to policy decisions affecting how our dollars are spent or how our rights are defined. But Israel’s decisions with respect to gaining a lasting peace in the Middle East dealt with issues unfamiliar to many Canadians, such as sacrificing for peace through territorial compromise, fighting terror and incitement, and dealing fairly with dislocated citizens.
In May I had the opportunity to spend some time in Israel, and went on a brief trip to a kibbutz (small community) just outside of Gaza. Meeting some community , I was struck by their ceaseless optimism and their yearning for peace. Their most fervent desire was that the uprooting of their lives not be in vain, and that the Palestinian Authority would finally carry out some of its Road Map obligations to the international community by eliminating terror organizations in Gaza. Nevertheless, the decision to leave Gaza was challenging for many, and movements began both in of and against disengagement. Almost everywhere in Israel there were orange (representing opposition to disengagement) and/or blue (representing ) signs, ribbons, t-shirts, hats, and head coverings. Petitions were signed and money was donated. Prayer services were held and mass rallies were organized. There were even protests, acts of civil disobedience, and arrests. People took time off of work or leisure and made their perspective known. Millions of Israelis were engaged in a political, moral and governmental decision. The disengagement from Gaza re-engaged these millions of Israelis in the democratic life of their country—a reaction that has widely been described as “re-engagement through disengagement.”
This return to communal responsibility, though it was born of deep disagreement over policy, bodes well for the future of Israel, its democracy and its people. In fact, the disengagement process proceeded according to democratic norms. Like Canada, Israel has a parliamentary system, with a Prime Minister and Cabinet drawn from the Knesset (Israel’s parliament). When Prime Minister Sharon proposed disengagement to the Knesset, every Member, including the many Arab Israeli , had the opportunity to vote. Those who opposed disengagement—including Natan Sharansky and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu— resigned in democratic protest, but the decision was carried. The system worked.
Of course, a victory of the process is of limited consolation to those whose lives have been turned upside down. The 8,500 Jews who are now virtually homeless—having lost their businesses, their homes, their synagogues, and even their cemeteries—take small solace in the fact that the decision was “difficult” for their leaders. Still, most Israelis understand their need for a united and common vision, continuing to strengthen Israel’s democracy and diversity. Left or right, religious or secular, there is recognition that the withdrawal from Gaza—whether seen as progress toward peace or reward for terror—is done. It is time to move on.
While we can disagree on how to reach a just and lasting peace, a desire for peace is part of the Israeli national consensus, and it is shared by Jewish communities worldwide. We are all anxious to see a real, moderate partner for peace emerge out of the Palestinian leadership, one which will dismantle terrorist groups, build democratic institutions, use international aid dollars—including Canadian dollars—wisely, and create a real economic infrastructure for Palestinians. Such a partner will give Arab and Israeli parents hope for their children’s shared future.
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