Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza disengagement plan is set to go ahead this August, with the fragile support of the country's parliament and in the face of a deeply divided Israeli public.
The withdrawal will bring some of the most significant changes on the ground in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the initial occupation of Gaza and the West Bank in 1967.
Q: What does the plan entail?
It envisages the evacuation of over 8,000 Israelis from 21 heavily-fortified settlements in the Gaza Strip, and hundreds more from four settlements in the northern West Bank.
Numerous Israeli army posts which serve to protect the Gaza settlers will also be removed - but Israel will keep control of Gaza's borders, coastline and airspace and reserves the right to re-enter the territory at will.
The estimated 1.3m Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip - who live under harsh travel restrictions - will be free to move into the evacuated zones (about one fifth of Gaza's total area) as soon as the Israelis leave.
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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged Israel not to seal off the Gaza Strip following its planned withdrawal from the area next month.
Palestinians say Israel has not offered assurances over access, including the free movement of goods and people.
Ms Rice met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas one day after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Israel has voiced concerns that the pullout will be met by an increase in violence by Palestinian militants.
Speaking in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Ms Rice said a well co-ordinated pullout could "re-energise" the peace process.

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