Unilateral withdrawal a mistake

Submitted by wilinsky (United States), Aug 10, 2005 at 11:14

1) Improvement in security is implied or asserted by many in favor of the withdrawal, but recent statements by high ranking military officers concerning the importation of heavy weapons (think Karine A) tend to confirm my opinion that no security benefits will accrue. The open plans of the terrorists as documented above by Mr. Pipes are further confirmation.

2) The non-democratic methods used to push this plan through (Likud voted against, Sharon opposed the plan when he campaigned in the last election, no referendum) has done serious and maybe very long lasting damage to the democratic process in Israel.

3) IMO public support has been garnered by underhanded appeals (promise of no more miluim in Gaza, exploitation of anti-settler and anti-religious sentiments) which are damaging to the social fabric in Israel.

4) The success or failure of the withdrawal will not be properly judged afterward, because the specific goals have not been made clear, and no criteria for success or failure have been proclaimed. I think the ones put forth by Mr. Pipes are excellent, but I'm pretty sure that they won't be used by the political establishment in Israel. Thus, the withdrawal will not constitute an 'experiment' any more than previous concessions did. As Mr. Pipes puts it, no lessons will be learned.

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