Disengagement Plan
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According to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan ("tochnit hahitnatkut" in Hebrew), which the government approved in early 2005, Israel will unilaterally evacuate all settlements in the Gaza Strip and four isolated settlements in the northern part of the West Bank. The plan is expected to get underway in the summer and be completed by year's end.
Unlike other agreements with the Palestinians, the disengagement plan is a unilateral decision by Israel to leave areas in the territories without getting anything in return from the Palestinian side.
In regard to Gaza, all settlements will be evacuated and Israeli military forces will be redeployed in areas outside the Strip. Discussions also continue in regard to whether Israeli military forces, which will completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip, will maintain a presence along the sensitive "Philadelphi Route," which runs along the border between the Strip and Egypt, and has been a fertile ground for arms smuggling during the intifada. There has been some discussion of having Egyptian forces take on some or this entire role. Despite the withdrawal, Israel will maintain control of Gaza Strip airspace and the coastal waters.
There is debate inside Israel whether to leave the evacuated settlements intact or to demolish them. In 1982, when Israel evacuated settlements in the Sinai as part of the peace agreement with Egypt, the settlements were demolished.
In the West Bank, Israel will evacuate the Ganim, Homesh, Kadim and Sanur settlements and dismantle all permanent military installations in the area.
Unsurprisingly, right-wing politicians and the settler movement strongly oppose the plan, although the government will financially compensate settlers required to leave their homes. Some opponents of the plan are demanding that a national referendum be held on the issue, but the prime minister has steadfastly refused such a move.
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