Gaza pullout: Ashraf Abualrab

The BBC News website and BBCArabic.com spoke to four Israelis and four Palestinians for their thoughts on the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Hakeem: Govt worker, Gaza "At the moment we live in a prison, but soon we will be free" Abdullah: Accountant, Gaza "Further agreements to improve conditions in Gaza must follow" Ashraf Accountant, W Bank "It is a trick to mislead domestic and world opinion" Lama: Aid worker, Gaza city "The Gaza pullout will make no difference - it's a unilateral step"

Ayelet: Lecturer, Haifa "I'm happy about the withdrawal - it will bring peace of mind" Shimon: 58, Pharmacist "I think it's a good move but I do have reservations" Arlene: Writer, Jerusalem "The withdrawal gives the upper hand to terrorists" Anita: Farmer, Gush Khatif "The evacuation is totally immoral and unethical"

Ashraf Abualarab, accountant, West Bank

The scale of the media fuss over the withdrawal of less than 8,000 settlers from Gaza is not surprising, given the way Israel behaves. It always gives away little in pursuit of bigger objectives.

The Gaza withdrawal plan is a trick by Israel to mislead domestic, Arab and world opinion.

Israel wants to also get rid of a densely populated area so that it can buttress and deepen its presence in a less heavily populated area which has a bigger economic, political, historical significance, namely the West Bank. Settlers withdrawn from Gaza will also be planted in the West Bank.

Let us remember what the late Israeli politician Moshe Dayan once said: "I wish I could wake up one day and see Gaza reclaimed by the sea."

As to the Palestinian leadership, perhaps the idea of the Gaza withdrawal appeals to them.

It may well improve Israeli-Palestinian and Arab relations but, as usual, Palestinian and Arab leaderships will only be able to counteract the negative consequences of the withdrawal after 10 years.

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The following comments reflect the balance of views received:

Abdullah's comments encapsulate the dilemma faced by even the most moderate Israelis. On the one hand, there is hope and the knowledge that large concessions must be made if a peaceful compromise is to be found. Yet, on the other, it seems as though whatever action Israel takes, there will always be extremists who will accept nothing less than the destruction of Israel.
David, London, UK

Ashraf and Al find it difficult to be objective, choosing instead to latch onto unsubstantiated and accusatory phrases. First, I do not see the Gaza Disengagement a huge "victory" for Israel. To the contrary, the forcible eviction of residents from their homes of 30 plus years, the dismantling of synagogues and the exhumation of the dead (even terror victims) is nothing short of a tragedy to the unwilling victims of the exercise. Second, the building of the security barrier by Israel was in direct response to terror. Until the suicide bombings of the intifada, there was no fence. The fence and checkpoints are necessary inconveniences because the Palestinian Authority has done almost nothing to control terror, it's very first obligation under the Road Map.
Aggie, Los Angeles

Unfortunately I'm going to have to agree with Ashraf. Some ask, why so cynical? The answer is that history has forced Palestinians to adopt this mode of thought as they have been pushed aside and mischaracterized for decades. Only when the West Bank is clear of settlements can Palestinians potentially begin to trust the Israeli government. The Gaza Strip is a barren wasteland with no economic opportunity. I won't deny that I am a little bit satisfied with the progress, but if the settlers are really being simply transferred to the other side of the country than no real gain has been made.
Ahmed, California, United States

The first point I would like to mention is that it is impossible for us as people influenced by the biased media to actually know what Sharon's motives are for no one knows the thoughts and feelings within some else's mind. Although the points raised are valid these statements must not be closed and refer to un-supported evidence because the truth is there is not enough true knowledge being passed through the media.
Riley O'Donohue, Gympie

I concur completely, while it is a step forward by the Israeli government, the motivations behind this withdrawal may be dubious. Sharon may simply be using this as a tactic to strengthen his hold on Jerusalem and the West Bank. While I applaud those settlers leaving willingly and the courage of those Israelis taking part in this withdrawal; I hope that everyone, specifically the media storm, reinforces the overwhelming historical fact that Gaza is a relatively small overpopulated area of 1.4 million Palestinian refugees who were expelled from their original homelands in current day Israel. Thus, giving the Palestinians control of Gaza is a step forward, but only a miniscule step in terms of the amount of these peoples land which was stolen from them.
Tyler Chalmers, Ottawa, Canada

Israel has never done one single thing as an effort to anything or anyone else then its own interests. I don't see why people would disagree with Ashraf. Israel has the obligation under international law to get out of Gaza and the West Bank, and should consider itself lucky that the UN has not forced them to yet.
Tinko, Paris, France

My fellow brothers should remember that Palestinians felt the same when they had to leave their houses during occupation. Even worse, there was no one to welcome them and compensate them like the what Israel is doing for those leaving their homes. We shall not forget this.
Yaniv, Tel Aviv, Israel

I think Ashraf is right, we are seeing a three card tactical trick. Israel will look good for doing the humanitarian thing and letting the 1.8m spread out more. They save all the hassle and money of protecting a small group of people and come out on the moral high ground. When the next attack occurs on Israeli interests they can come down hard with the approach "we let then have this land and this is how they repay us, right we keep the West Bank!".
Duncan, London

The withdrawal is morally correct, the Palestinians need a state and the current situation must end eventually. However the unilateral nature of this action worries me. The BBC often fails to point out that when groups like Hamas talk of "the occupation" they are not talking about Gaza and the West Bank, but the whole of Israel. Their aim is to turn all of Israel into an Islamic state and expel the Jews. Israel accepted a long time ago that the Palestinians aren't going anywhere; I'm not so sure the Palestinians have accepted the same about Israel.
Jules, Leeds, UK

Ashraf why be so cynical? I did not see one weapon of Hamas or Islamic Jihad put beyond use and the Palestinian do not meet their commitments to the road map either. Israel is trying to change the agenda trying to minimise friction between the two people. If the violent reduces, then maybe we will have time to talk.
Omer, Israel/UK

I would really like to believe that Mr Klein's opinion reflect those of the majority of Israelis who have misgivings both about the manner in which their government has handled the Palestinian issue and, also, the way the Palestinian Authority allowed itself to become corrupt and dogged by brutality and political in-fighting.
Hans Stiles, Chessington, Surrey

I agree with what Graham Purnell says that (quote) "compromise is the key to the problems of Israel" and that "it's the essence of civilised behaviour". Israel is taking a huge leap forward in the name of peace by withdrawing from Gaza this time, just like it even bent over backwards and went as far as offer East Jerusalem in Camp David yet, sadly, as Israel is preparing to make concessions, Hamas is vowing to continue armed resistance. I can empathise with how insecure some Israelis must feel and how once more it seems that they're surrendering another slice of the pie for nothing.
Sonia Ripa, Toronto, Canada

Ashraf has an non-optimistic but understandable viewpoint. The British press are making a big thing of the withdrawal and this can be seen as a big victory for Israeli PR. Meanwhile the expansion of settlements in the West Bank (against the roadmap)and the continued building of the disastrous wall continue almost silently.
Al, T Wells, UK

Spot on! This media circus to witness the expulsion of a handful of settlers who should not have been in Gaza in the first place is to provide the perfect excuse not to evacuate the rest of the West Bank. All that Sharon has done is to give up a wasted land to keep the jewel of Israeli occupation: Jerusalem.
Abdellah, London