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Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/19/AR2005071901552.html
In Gaza, a Test Case for Peace
Ambassador Daniel Ayalon (Washington Post) - * Next month thousands of Israelis will be uprooted from their homes in 25 settlements, against the backdrop of widespread political opposition and intensifying Palestinian terrorism. * Prime Minister Sharon is boldly determined to move forward with disengagement from Gaza and the northern West Bank out of a deep conviction that it is critical to Israel's future. Unfortunately, the Palestinian leadership has failed to meet him halfway. The Palestinian Authority's refusal to disarm terrorist organizations has enabled the terrorists to regroup and renew deadly attacks against Israelis, casting an ominous shadow on the possibility of future progress. * While Israel is committed to completing the disengagement as planned, we will not sit idly by while our civilians are under attack. Time is running out for the Palestinian leadership to confront the terrorists. Should it fail to do so, Israel will be forced to take the necessary steps to defend its people. * Disengagement is an immense undertaking aimed at reducing friction between Israelis and Palestinians, jump-starting the peace process, and providing the Palestinians with a unique opportunity to build institutions of responsible self-governance. * At the same time, it puts a terrible burden on thousands of Israelis called on to leave their homes against their will. Many have lived there for more than three generations. Living, breathing communities, some more than 30 years old, will simply vanish. Businesses, factories, and farms will be shut down. Schools, synagogues, and cemeteries will be relocated. The removal of graves, including those of terrorism victims, will be especially heart-wrenching. * Public anxiety in Israel has increased because of the resurgence of Palestinian terrorism, including suicide bombings, drive-by shootings, and rocket attacks. The terrorist organizations must be disarmed as called for in the "road map" if Palestinian statehood is to be achieved. This is non-negotiable. * Gaza is both the opportunity and the test for the Palestinian leadership. Will that leadership prove itself capable of governing a functioning democratic society, free from terrorism and focused on improving the lives of its citizens, or will it squander yet another opportunity?