Unilateralism (vs. Negotiations)

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon came up with the policy of unilateralism, also known as disengagement, in August 2005. Based on the idea that Israel had no partner for negotiations, its aim was to disentangle Israel from its conflict with the Palestinians by withdrawing from the settlements – the main source of conflict. The plan came under criticism from all sides: from the settlers and the right, who believed Israel should keep the territory and that withdrawal would be seen as a victory for Palestinian terrorism; and from the left who believed the policy would not end the conflict but would leave Palestine lawless and without any way to sustain itself. In August 2005, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip (although it continues to control the air space and borders around it) and from four settlements in the West Bank. Since the Lebanon war of the summer 2006, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has dropped the policy of unilateralism.

Background Information

• General Outline of the Disengagement Plan
• Israel’s Disengagement Plan – Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Select Documents on the Plan

Legal Documents and Reports

• Speech by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, during which he considered Disengagement, Dec. 18, 2003
• Exchange of Letters between President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon regarded Disengagement, April 14, 2004
• The Political and Social Ramifications of Evacuating Settlements in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip - Policy Paper from the Israel Democracy Institute, September 2004 (note: you must have a user name and password to read this - you can get these for free)
• Stagnation or Revival – World Bank report on the Gaza Disengagement, Dec. 2004
• Speech by PM Sharon on day of Disengagement, August 15, 2005
• Israel Carrying Out Historic Withdrawal From Gaza and Parts of the West Bank – AIPAC memo, August 29, 2005
• The Gaza Strip After Disengagement – Special Report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Nov./Dec. 2005

Maps

• Gaza Disengagement Map – from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
• Disengagement Map – From the International Transition Assessment Group (shows both the West Bank and Gaza)

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