Palestinians give their perspective on the Gaza disengagement
Last night on The Wire you heard one Israeli settlers personal account of leaving his home in Gaza. And as we go to air tonight, Gaza is in turmoil tonight with thousands of settlers refusing to move from their homes. Tonight, we will hear the Palestinian perspective on what Israel’s disengagement from Gaza will mean for peace prospects in the region. The Gaza disengagement plan has been touted as the first step in a plan to kick start the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis. However, Palestinians remain skeptical. While there has been much focus on how much Israel’s 8000 Gazan settlers are giving up in withdrawing from that region, Palestinians remain concerned that while this occurs, the Jewish state only appears to be further consolidating its hold over settlements on Palestinian lands in the West Bank, where approximately 450,000 Israeli settlers live. This report by Erica Vowles begins with comments from Dr Mustafa Bargouthi, the head of the Palestinian national Initiative, a peaceful opposition movement. He spoke to Erica from Gaza City.