Disengagement is neither a complete nor perfect solution. It is
immensely painful for Israeli settlers being forced to leave their
homes. It leaves Gaza without adequate economic infrastructure.
Most importantly, it does not provide answers to the critical
questions about the West Bank.
But despite these flaws, it also represents a pragmatic and
meaningful opportunity for a just and peaceful future for both
Palestinians and Israelis. While never compromising the commitment
to a final comprehensive settlement, the current disengagement plan
is an opportunity that people of good will on both sides should
welcome.
Given the change in the political climate of the Middle East
following the election of Mahmoud Abbas, Israel seems to have
finally found a credible partner for peace. The disengagement plan,
which was initially rooted in unilateralism, is now evolving into a
more bilateral effort. This presents the Ariel Sharon and Abbas
governments with their first test in the process of peace-making
and building a future for the two peoples. Success in the
disengagement plan will establish confidence and trust between both
sides and will hopefully break the seemingly intractable cycle of
violence. Failure in this effort, however, will only further weaken
the hands of peaceful people on both sides.
We readily admit that the success of disengagement is predicated
on many factors that are currently unresolved. It remains unclear
how much the Abbas government can do to control militancy without
also falling victim to it. How much can the Israelis realistically
expect? For his part, Sharon runs the risk of political backlash
from both within his party and from settler communities if the plan
doesn’t work.
Ultimately it comes down to this: arguments that no solution
should be considered prior to agreement on a comprehensive
settlement are arguments for a state of perpetual conflict. We see
this coming from Israeli hawks who choose ideology over peace when
they argue that disengagement is acceptable only after the
dismantling of Palestinian militant groups. On the other side,
there are those who reject disengagement until all Palestinian
concerns are addressed simultaneously. Whether they realize it,
what they’re arguing for is perpetual conflict. This is the
logic of the past four-and-a-half years of war and, as was
demonstrated, will not work for peace. Peace will come through
compromise, through struggle and through the courage to recognize
opportunities such as the one at hand.
Greenwald and Soleimany are members of the Progressive
Jewish Students’ Association.