At a time when Israel faces war and the reality of a difficult security situation, it is hard not to recall the days prior to the disengagement from Gush Katif nine years ago. At that time rockets were being fired from Gaza, Israeli citizens were forced to remain in shelters, and there was talk of a better sense of security.
The absurdity is that late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke at the time of a safer Israel once it separated from Gaza, and today we are talking about a safer Israel once we enter Gaza. The words are the same words, but the actions fundamentally different.
A map from the Legal Forum's archive is testament to the actualization of the concerns expressed at that time, and their deterioration today. The map depicts the range of the rockets fired into Israel, including cities such as Ashkelon, Ashdod and Netivot. In a special report prepared by the Legal Forum prior to the disengagement the Forum warned of the rockets aimed at strategic targets. The Forum warned that "the IDF's withdrawal from the Gaza strip and Northern Samaria will increase the threat both with regard to range and the hits. This threat will affect the security and possibly cause the injury of numerous citizens in Ashkelon, Sderot, Netivot, Ofakim and their surrounding areas" nine years after the disengagement, the reality has worsened for all Israeli citizens, not only for those in the South.
It is difficult when recalling how the Supreme Court Judges at the time were urged to tour the area themselves and see firsthand the dangers of the disengagement, how close the border is and the grave the danger posed to Israel. It is even harder when recalling the stubborn refusal of the Judges to visit Gush Katif, and their merely stating that reality will be better, without considering the consequences.
Do these Judges, hearing the sirens in their homes in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv rushing to the shelters today, wonder what would have occurred had they impeded the government a little more? What would have happened if they would have inquired what do the words "a better security reality" mean? What if they would have asked the simple question "which senior members of the security forces rely on the disengagement plan? What would have occurred had they summoned the Chief of Staff to testify?
Today, in order to really improve Israel's security the decision makers must ask further questions: What will happen when Fatah loses power? What will happen if Hamas acquires control over Judea and Samaria? How can the influence of neighboring Arab states such as Syria, Egypt and Jordan be reduced? The most important question is how Israel is planning to restore its power of deterrence in the long term after retreating from Gaza nine years ago.
Unfortunately, today we are witness to the fact that the Legal Forum's concerns have become the reality and Israel's sense of security has deteriorated.
The importance of stating this in the Supreme Court and to the public during the disengagement is evident now. The Legal Forum will continue to state the truth and flood the issue in order that the right decisions are made and that life in Tel Aviv will not be like life in Sderot.
Leave a Reply