Settlements in the Evacuation Mix

The Gaza Strip has a complement of 20 Israeli settlements located in three main areas: in the northwest corner bordering Israel Nisanit, Dugit, and Alei Sinai; in a north-south trajectory controlling the main Gaza route--Salah al-Din Street--the isolated settlements of Netzarim, Kfar Darom, and Morag that enable the division of the strip into three sections; and settlements situated along the coast in the Katif bloc north of Rafah that serve as a physical barrier to the creation of Palestinian contiguity between Gaza City and Rafah.

Settlement planning areas comprise 54 square kilometers, of which 11.7 sq.km represents built-up area. This infrastructure supports a population of approximately 7,000 Israelis residing in 1,500 dwelling units, representing a density of 665 people per sq.km.. A well developed, privately owned but state subsidized agricultural infrastructure produces for Israeli and export markets. There is also an industrial production base centered at Erez in the northwest bloc of settlements.

The entire Gaza Strip covers 365 sq.km., of which 55 sq.km. is Palestinian built-up area. The population density among Palestinians is 25,400 people per sq.km., rising to 50,478 per sq.km. in the refugee camps.

The disengagement plan concerns only four West Bank settlements concentrated in the Jenin region: Ganim (population 170), Kadim (149), Sa Nur (33), and Homesh (198).

The existence and protection of these settlements has resulted in the balkanization of Palestinian territory in the northern part of the West Bank and the interruption of normal transport, commerce, and many features of daily Palestinian life. Their evacuation does not represent the kind of conceptual and strategic thinking governing Israel's contemplated withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The evacuation of these four settlements will have salutary effects on a local and perhaps regional level, but it will hardly represent a basis for sovereign, Palestinian control in the West Bank.