I have yet to write about the piece of history that is being made in Israel. Before living here, I was extremely disconnected from the politics and events happening in Israel. For the past month, I have made it a habit to get up ten minutes earlier to read the Israeli news. (If you are interested in a good website to read the Israeli news in English check out www.haaretzdaily.com) There is no way I could escape knowing what is happening here even without my habitual reading of the news every morning. In class once a week we review the Hebrew newspaper together and speak about the current events only in Hebrew. This is only one way I learn about what is happening here. On the streets you can witness people in “color wars” (Those that are opposed to the disengagement wear orange and those that are in favor of the disengagement sport blue and white) on the cars, on peoples’ heads (yarmulkes), on backpacks, and on street corners. It is a country deeply rooted in history, politics, religion, and passion.

Israelis and Palestinians have long been anticipating August 15, 2005, for a year and a half ago Israeli’s Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, announced his “disengagement plan.” This plan removes Israel's presence from the Gaza Strip, as well as four settlements in the West Bank. Both of these areas have experienced violence and terror for a long time. At midnight on August 15th, the settlements within the Gaza Strip were closed to Israelis, and residents were given 48 hours to leave before they would be removed by the army and police.

However this is not the major upset of Sharon’s plan. The sad result of the disengagement is that Israelis that were living within these settlements were forced to uproot their lives and move outside of these territories, children were separated from friends, parents lost jobs and families left homes behind. Because this country is so deeply rooted in passion, over the past months there has been protest after protest both in the Gaza Strip and outside. We have witnessed them across the street from our local grocery store. They have been carrying large signs expressing their positions in many different languages and walking in silence accompanied by police and security.

I am outnumbered in Jerusalem, because the majority of Jerusalem is against the disengagement. I support Sharon’s plan of separation in these areas in hopes of increasing peace and diminish terrorism. There is so much to process living here.

Even as an American I can feel the sadness of those in Jerusalem as they watch fellow Israelis pack up their lives, leave the gates of the settlements, and rebuild their lives outside of the Gaza Strip. I can imagine the hopes of others that Sharon’s plan will bring peace to these areas that were plagues with violence and fear for so long.
This is why I support the disengagement plan, the resettlement, the chance that maybe these Israeli settlers will be able to feel at peace in the new homes and lives they build.