TROUBLE IN THE LAND
In less than two months, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's proposed
"disengagement" plan is scheduled to commence. The controversial plan
calls for the evacuation of Jewish settlers from all 21 Gaza
settlements/towns and a further four communities in northern Samaria
(West Bank), and the lands turned over to the Palestinians. Nearly
10,000 Israeli citizens will be forcibly evacuated from their homes,
farms and businesses by the police and the Army.
The wisdom of such a unilateral withdrawal, accompanied by
unprecedented action on the part of the State of Israel toward its own
citizens, is vigorously disputed by those in favor and those opposed to
the disengagement. For the former, the longterm consequences will be
promising and positive; the latter believe the results and
ramifications will be catastrophic.
This issue has polarized citizens of Israel as never before in the
State's fiftyplus year history. Even the Prime Minister has warned of
the possibility of civil war over the disengagement. The issues are
deeply felt, and in the case of the opposition, religiously fervent. In
many ways the conflict is more than political; it represents a clash of
worldviews between a predominantly secular majority that has low regard
for a committed religious minority.
From the secular, political point of view, the disengagement is seen as
a strategic move that will win approval of the nations and enhance the
military security of the State. For the devout opposition, the forced
expulsion of Jewish settlers by Israeli soldiers from land that has
been legally acquired, is Godgiven and hard earned represents a
capitulation to Amalek and a lack of trust and allegiance to the God of
Israel. In their view, He is the only One who can assure true shalom
for the Jewish state.
To help you better understand the complexities and challenges of this
critical concern in Israel, a summary overview of the beliefs and
convictions of those in favor of the disengagement and those who oppose
it follows.
