8.5. Questions about Disengagement

The IDF and the Israel Police Force are planning both the civilian and military departure from Gush Katif and the 4 settlements in northern Samaria. In civilian terms, much depends on how many residents agree to depart peacefully, how many external protesters impede Disengagement, and how many residents refuse to leave – including the nature of that opposition. While many residents have decided to move on with regret and bitter feelings, others have declared they will fight Disengagement within the law; a vocal minority has decided to fight Disengagement beyond the law, too. The residents also claim that the Plan was not democratically legislated, that their lives and ideas are being delegitimized in the Israeli media and deprived of their right to protest.

Positions on Disengagement
Free speech;
Voices in distress – article

Will Israel leave the buildings or destroy them?

Another question is about the buildings and infrastructure that will remain after Disengagement. While religious facilities and cemeteries will be relocated, and security facilities will be demolished, it would be environmentally and diplomatically unwise to demolish housing and social or educational facilities, as well as looking bad on TV. These and the infrastructure will be left behind. However, Israel has not found an intermediary purchaser for the real estate and has serious concerns that terrorists and other powerful interests or figures in the PA will simply take them over.

Who's managing Disengagement?

A separate Authority [SELA] was established within the Prime Minister's Office to operate the consent, compensation and relocation procedures
[http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMO/Hitnatkut/]. One of its tasks was to look for existing and new options for communities and large groups of civilians to resettle. SELA claims that almost one third of Gush Katif households are interested in accepting compensation and/or government-assisted resettlement, and that more are waiting until the last minute. There are no clear facts, but it has emerged that there is no permanent or temporary housing available to host large groups or communities, and the compensation for housing legislated will be inadequate for private relocation. Many of the options are in new communities in the Galilee, with little infrastructure and few employment opportunities In addition, there is only a minimal re-employment structure for relocation in the Negev itself, and many will find it difficult to find new jobs in the tertiary sector, while agricultural producers will face years of rebuilding their farms and businesses.

How is it going to happen?

This is addressed in the Chapter on Details of Disengament, but there is also a good overview in this Haaretz Article: Security forces complete plans for pullout.