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Gaza cannot be part of a Jewish and democratic state

Reader comment on item: [Israel's Gaza Withdrawal:] A Democracy Killing Itself

Submitted by Ophir (Israel), Aug 16, 2005 at 12:02

Though for once the Sharon government is doing something right, it is determined to do it the wrong way. There is no question, in my mind or that of most of my countrymen, that getting our soldiers out of Gaza and evacuating Gush Katif are significant steps that are to be blessed. So much money and so many lives have been sacrificed for that miserable piece of desert inhabited by over a million Palestinians who in no way can be a part of the Jewish democratic state.

I do however think Sharon should have left the northern three settlements of Dugit, Nisanit and Elei Sinai in place as they were no obstacle to Israel's security (unlike Gush Katif). Not many would weep if they were eventually evecuated as part of a proper peace agreement. Given the unilateral aspect of the current withdrawl however they should have been kept as "cards" in Israel's hand for any future bilateral peace-deal.

As for the forced evacuation of the settlers - that is difficult moral issue. On the one hand I would be prone to saying "If they want to stay, let them stay". On the other, however, there are many children residing in Gush Katif. Every adult has the right to stay in a burning building but I do not think the firefighters should leave children hostages of their own parent's misplaced priorites. With the army out those few who would stay (and they would be very few) would probably not be amongst the living for much longer. It would also cause unneccesary conflict. After all's said and done, though, the Gaza pullout strengthens Israel's identity as both Jewish and democratic, and that's a very good thing indeed.
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Reader comments (146) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
2Gaza, Hamas and the Stockholm Syndrome. [676 words]Stephen MargolisOct 22, 2008 17:23140701
unending terrorism [63 words]galSep 21, 2005 10:0526125
why? [564 words]MortaryanSep 11, 2005 17:3625662
to Paul la Demain, If it's proof you want... [113 words]orange yonasonAug 29, 2005 12:0925173
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Gaza Withdrawal [526 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Paul la DemainAug 26, 2005 04:2325120
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The Gaza Withdrawal [124 words]Suzanne RichmondNov 29, 2008 11:2425050
Secular Law Surpasses G-d's Law? [265 words]Yehoshua ZellerAug 23, 2005 20:4325027
Response to Mr. Feldman: you misunderstood [145 words]john barcusAug 23, 2005 19:1625023
Gaza [43 words]Perry SmulsonAug 23, 2005 13:4625003
Sharon's Disengagment plan is a Step in the Right Direction [487 words]LoganAug 23, 2005 12:0624995
Why not 5 years ago ? [86 words]mamo TollesaAug 23, 2005 07:5024985
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Prejudice against the Palestinians [99 words]beccaAug 22, 2005 18:4324971
palestinian trap [279 words]john barcusAug 22, 2005 17:5124969
Sharon is trapping the Palestinians [340 words]AriAug 22, 2005 11:2324961
Re:Philedelphi Corridor [310 words]Faith GiniAug 21, 2005 13:5724940
Irish-British comparison [159 words]AndrewAug 21, 2005 10:4824938
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Re: Philedelphi Corridor [160 words]Janet Ann SuzukiAug 20, 2005 10:5924923
Maybe. Just maybe. [100 words]L.J. MeyerAug 19, 2005 21:2024913
Gaza pull out - or is it? [137 words]Steven FeldmanAug 19, 2005 15:0324906
Israel on the verge of a massive Terrorist Attack [430 words]kanadAug 19, 2005 14:3824904
A Counterintuitive Observation [369 words]Ron ThompsonAug 19, 2005 08:5624899
Philedelphi Corridor [603 words]Faith GiniAug 19, 2005 01:1424890
Al kiddush Hashem [74 words]yehuda ben DavidAug 18, 2005 23:0224885
note to "kirkegaard" [13 words]john w. mcginleyAug 18, 2005 17:2724880
ITS WAR OR NOT. [177 words]DONVANAug 18, 2005 17:1124879
A Sign Of Things To Come? [805 words]orange yonasonAug 18, 2005 13:4924872
WORD OF CHRIST MINISTRY ; My love for Israel. [123 words]warren e. smithJan 25, 2007 14:3124872
Suggestion [223 words]Maclord MasihOct 19, 2007 13:4824872
Israel's Great Mistake [113 words]EdwardFeb 11, 2009 17:3924872
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Humiliation [180 words]MarilynAug 18, 2005 13:0124868
What are you talking about... [18 words]williamAug 18, 2005 11:1524866
gaza withdrawal [10 words]walterAug 18, 2005 07:4924859
Richard Williams- Good Assessment [196 words]J. ConklinAug 17, 2005 21:1424851
Since Gaza will turn into Hamastan, a war will follow [9 words]John SmithAug 17, 2005 16:2624847
Israel is not a Democracy [108 words]AnnAug 17, 2005 12:0324839
Gaza withdrawal [14 words]Yoav EfratAug 17, 2005 12:0224838
Israelis have no right [33 words]NavAug 17, 2005 10:0824833
Palestinians are plain terrorists [26 words]NaamokuAug 17, 2005 09:0424830
Lament [16 words]Dixon PorterAug 17, 2005 08:3024829
Re: Orange Yonason [291 words]DvoraAug 17, 2005 07:4124828
Forced expulsions are illegal in international law. [57 words]d singerAug 17, 2005 03:3424822
Too Dark a Forecast [227 words]David AroninAug 17, 2005 02:1324817
Crazy like a fox [117 words]Walter ManchurAug 17, 2005 01:1624814
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Don't Let Sharon Tell You It's Bush's Fault [218 words]orange yonasonAug 16, 2005 23:0424807
Ethnic Cleansing [131 words]Robert PerlitzAug 16, 2005 22:5824806
Re: Dvora [267 words]orange yonasonAug 16, 2005 22:4424803
Disengagement- Forcing the Palestinians to Choose, Not Israel. [157 words]YoramAug 16, 2005 21:5824799
I cannot agree with this statement [49 words]tzveeAug 16, 2005 20:4324796
My opinion [79 words]Larry BlumAug 16, 2005 19:5124794
Is Sharon Looking for a Fight? [73 words]Chris M.Aug 16, 2005 18:0124782
The Die is Cast... [173 words]C.ComptonAug 16, 2005 16:4824780
Tactics vs Strategy in Gaza [427 words]KierkegaardAug 16, 2005 16:2124776
May be the smartest move [349 words]BorisAug 16, 2005 16:1724775
It depends [338 words]Meryl ArbingAug 16, 2005 15:4524771
Gaza vs. Lebanon [645 words]Richard WilliamsAug 16, 2005 15:4324770
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A "Democracy?" No. A DICTATORSHIP, Yes. [319 words]Ruth LowryAug 16, 2005 14:4924761
cweiss@weissiplaw.com [11 words]Craig WeissAug 16, 2005 14:3324760
What was the alternative? [200 words]PatAug 16, 2005 13:1124755
The Wandering Jew Redux? [147 words]David W. LincolnAug 16, 2005 12:5824752
[The Gaza Withdrawal:] A Democracy Killing Itself [319 words]Sam AntoineAug 16, 2005 12:2524750
Gaza cannot be part of a Jewish and democratic state [285 words]OphirAug 16, 2005 12:0224749
The biggest enemies of the jewish people are among us! [252 words]EliAug 16, 2005 11:1224748
Radical Overstatement, Wrong Focus [307 words]ron thompsonAug 16, 2005 10:5124746
Israel as weak [28 words]s d stanfieldAug 16, 2005 10:3724745
Re: Ted - Withdrawal from Gaza [197 words]HuldahAug 16, 2005 10:2724744
Response to Ted Matthews [118 words]b. smohlAug 16, 2005 10:2224742
Sharon's present against Sharon's past? [102 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Maureen CoteAug 16, 2005 10:1924741
Response to Ted [96 words]garyAug 16, 2005 09:4424740
SHARON'S SHAME [221 words]David Bentata PSCAug 16, 2005 08:3924739
Jerusalem Post editorial on disengagement [72 words]Mladen AndrijasevicAug 16, 2005 06:4624735
I can't believe what I just read [25 words]SaraAug 16, 2005 06:3824734
Sharon's strategy: Fight aggressors on their own turf? [108 words]Jan VinkAug 16, 2005 06:0524732
Re: Yonason [364 words]DvoraAug 16, 2005 05:3724730
It will encourage terrorism worldwide [355 words]Amitabh tripathiAug 16, 2005 05:2924729
withdrawal from gaza [115 words]nick wrightAug 16, 2005 04:2224727
Withdrawal from Gaza [274 words]Ted MatthewsAug 16, 2005 03:0724724
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Kidnapping the Peace [40 words]Dave GoldsteinAug 16, 2005 01:5824719
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A citizen's army cannot be deployed against their fellow soldiers [56 words]MIMAug 15, 2005 22:4124705
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If I Forget Thee? [296 words]John R. PeacherAug 15, 2005 22:1624703
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Israel is committing suicide [127 words]Ralph C Whaley MDAug 15, 2005 20:3324697
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Withdrawal [115 words]Steven LAug 15, 2005 17:5624691
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Unilateral Withdrawal [78 words]Howard MintzAug 15, 2005 16:1724685
wrong, wrong, wrong [169 words]john w. mcginleyAug 15, 2005 16:1424684
1This is sending a message that terrorism works. [231 words]NicolaAug 15, 2005 16:0824683
Disengagement --- down the road.......... [153 words]Harry W. GluckmanAug 15, 2005 15:5524682
To Paul Z. [71 words]orange yonasonAug 15, 2005 14:5624681
Conclusions too soon? [410 words]BorisAug 15, 2005 14:1324677
Success of Israeli Withdrawal Dependent on Conti gency Response. [108 words]Richard BrooksAug 15, 2005 13:5524676
1Democracy in itself is self defeating [271 words]Darwin BarrettAug 15, 2005 13:4024675
I Cry Today [56 words]Nikki Roth-SkilesAug 15, 2005 13:1424673
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[The Gaza Withdrawal:] A Democracy Killing Itself [154 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
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Gaza Pullout [87 words]DavidAug 15, 2005 12:2724670
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I live in Israel and I do not see some of the facts you mention [297 words]Dan AterAug 15, 2005 11:3824661
another foreign piece of advice for israel [423 words]jrAug 15, 2005 11:3724660
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respectfully disagree [311 words]Paul ZAug 15, 2005 11:3024658
A Democracy Killing Itself [39 words]Bernard FreedmanAug 15, 2005 11:2324657
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Days of Israel are Numbered [30 words]DonAug 15, 2005 10:4124654
New Round of justifications [163 words]AlojzAug 15, 2005 10:3324653
No Good Option [311 words]Ira KatzAug 15, 2005 09:5824651
Why? [20 words]Brad ScruggsAug 15, 2005 09:4424650
appeasement ? [215 words]peter silverAug 15, 2005 09:3924649
I hold Mr. Bush personally responsible for this [815 words]Steve KleinAug 15, 2005 09:3324648
Gaza pullout [10 words]cindy connerAug 15, 2005 09:3024647
Pull Out Completed more than 2 Years ago [56 words]Robert PerlitzMay 11, 2008 03:1524647
unilateral disengagement is a recipe for war [50 words]b. smohlAug 15, 2005 09:0924646

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