7 August 2005

Mr. Ariel Sharon
Prime Minister
Jerusalem
Sir;
From the first conversation when you presented your plan to me, I told you
that I oppose unilateral withdrawal without anything in return, that in my
estimation will strengthen the forces of terror. As a minimum I asked for
the inclusion of the settlement blocs within the security fence before the
beginning of the withdrawal and the holding of the Philadephi Corridor in
our hands. In this way we would be neutralizing the impression that we are
running away from terror and instead shows that we are choosing a new
defense line in accordance with out national interests. In addition, we set
that after then the Government would be able to consider if to decide on the
evacuation in light of the reality developing in the area.
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by Sara Yoheved Rigler                                       
When the disengagement takes place, the Hilburgs' most wrenching loss will not be their beautiful home in the settlement of Netzer Hazani, nor even their nine and a half dunams of hothouses that grow bio-organic cherry tomatoes. The hardest piece of land for them to part with will be the grave of their son Yochanan, killed in Lebanon while serving in the Israeli army, and buried in the cemetery of Gush Katif.
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17:14 Aug 07, '05 / 2 Av 5765
By Hillel Fendel
Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced his sudden resignation from the government this afternoon, citing the disengagement plan as dangerous and harmful to the State of Israel.
"We have reached the moment of truth," Netanyahu informed the Cabinet in a letter he left on the Cabinet table after his dramatic announcement this afternoon. "There is a way of reaching peace and security, but unilateral withdrawal - under terrorist fire, and with nothing in return - is not the way to do this. Withdrawing from Gaza will turn that area into a terror base that will endanger the country."

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