Report on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories

April 20, 2005 was an unheralded date in the history of Israel’s 38 year occupation of the Gaza Strip, but it is arguably the most important since the conquest of Gaza in June 1967. On this date, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began dismantling the military infrastructure that is at the heart of the occupation, and whose presence enabled the creation of a parallel system of civilian occupation.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s belief that Israel must retain strategic control of the West Bank to protect its security, by keeping most of its settlements and forces there after its planned withdrawal from Gaza in August, 2005 is at odds with Israel’s own experience and the lessons of history.

Interview with Yonatan Bassi, head of Israel’s Disengagement Administration, Ha’aretz, July 8, 2005