By Ted Belman
August 10, 2005
The strongest argument in favour of disengagement is that it will end the occupation of Gaza. But will it?
"Occupation" is more then just a derogatory label. It imposes on the occupier onerous responsibilities in international law to maintain law and order and to protect the inhabitants and the land. For this and other reasons, Sharon wants desperately to end the occupation. Easier said then done.
At the same time I would argue that we have all been affected by the propaganda emanating from the PA and totally supported by old Europe and leftists around the world including in Israel, to the effect that the occupation is a crime against humanity, is degrading for Palestinians and Israelis alike and is costly to Israel in lives and shekels. The truth is that the occupation was brought about due to the aggressive actions of the Arab states and is necessary to save Israeli lives and to protect Israel. Security Council Resolution 242 authorized Israel to remain in occupation until she could withdraw to secure and recognized borders. The PA makes the occupation more onerous by attacking Israel. They are the authors of their own misfortune.
Last year, I wrote What Will Disengagement Accomplish in which I argued that disengagement would not end the occupation. This article refers to a brilliant report by the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department which makes the case that the occupation will continue because of Israel?s intended control of the access to Gaza. Sharon agrees and therefore is bending over backwards to divest himself of control. It is for this reason he is to allow a deep sea port, a land link to the West Bank and an airport. He is also negotiating to permit more Egyptian troops into the Sinai to manage the border; all this in the hope of getting the Security Council to declare the occupation of Gaza over.
On August 7th, DEBKA put the question, How Much Will Sharon Fork out for a Favorable Security Council Resolution? Subsequently Aluf Benn, in Haaretz, raises these issues in No letup to the occupation.
No rational man would ever concede on any of these issues yet Sharon is in negotiations concerning all of them. The consequences of having the free flow of arms and terrorists in and out of Gaza and the West Bank are so obvious, so certain and so frightening that no one would contemplate it much less permit it. Yet Sharon is doing just that.
In effect, Sharon is saying that no price is too high to end the occupation.
Perhaps Sharon is under enormous pressure. Israel's biggest trading partner, the EU, may be threatening economic boycotts and sanctions. The US could be threatening a military boycott. Both have already instituted boycotts of one form or another. Don't forget the US is desperate for some achievement in the ME to take the pressure off for their failure in Iraq and Iran. The EU is likewise desperate for Israel to return to the Green Line in the hope of lessening the terror they are subject to. If Bush came to shove, how far would he push Israel? Whatever happened to his pledge that he would never jeopardize the security of Israel?
Furthermore, if Israel were to give in to all these demands resulting in a huge terror offensive and Al Qaeda entering Gaza etc, what would be the Quartet's response? Somebody would have to occupy Gaza just as the US occupied Afghanistan and Iraq. But the US is now looking for an exit strategy and isn't prepared to touch another occupation with a ten foot pole. Instead it is placing all its eggs in the PA's basket, hoping to train them and get them to bring peace where there is no peace and there is no will to peace. The US is demanding that they be given an army with heavy equipment and ammunition to take on Hamas. It boggles the mind. Talk about going for broke!
The end result of all this myopia, malevolence and quixotic thinking will be war.
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