Gaza pullout: Ayelet Goldman

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"

Ayelet, Lecturer/medical practitioner, Haifa, Israel

I'm very happy about the withdrawal, I have three boys due to go into the army so it's good to know they will not be serving in Gaza.

I think it will bring some peace of mind, I will feel happier about the kids taking buses, things will be less dangerous.

I think it's the start of a process of giving in order to reach an agreement. I know Jerusalem will always be a problem but it's a start. First we solve Gaza, then maybe we can solve the other areas, such as the West Bank.

Time will tell if we get something back. It's not instant gratification - we need to be patient. The world is watching and some things just take time.

The settlers who are staying are asking for trouble and bringing it on themselves.

The pullout is important for the Gazan Palestinians in terms of their economy and freedom and also important for us. After all, we have soldiers and police forces there as well.

My cousins are in the reserve forces and will have to serve over the pullout. It will be dangerous for them and I am afraid.

I would be happy to know the place is self contained and that we don't have to send our children there anymore.

As for the settlers, I can understand it must be difficult to leave your home behind but Israel is willing to help them by giving them compensation.

There will always be people who go to extremes, I can understand it's an emotional issue for them but still, the majority of Israelis here approve. We live in a democratic society, there is a fine line between state and religion that they have to understand.

The settlers who are staying are asking for trouble and bringing it on themselves.

My hope is that once we leave Gaza the Palestinians will be happy and feel less of a need for revenge.

Maybe, once they get something, they'll want less harm to be done to us. Everyone needs their own world that they are content in.

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The following comments reflect the balance of views received:

I wish I was as optimistic as Ayelet. I am also very happy that my son will not risk his life serving in Gaza. However, I do not think that the Palestinians will be satisfied. They will learn that terror works, and send more suicide bombers to free all of Palestine. They will try to use the Gaza harbour to get loads or missiles from Iran and Syria, and send them to Tel Aviv and everywhere. Hamas will never be satisfied until Israel is destroyed, and the Palestinian Authority will keep doing nothing to against Hamas.
Oren, Rehovot, Israel

I don't know - Ayelet's statement sounds somewhat naive. In a perfect world her optimism would have merit, but the reality is - the situation is only going to get worse. These settlers don't want to leave their home, and to feign sympathy is condescending. It's not enough to say, "I feel for the settlers." One needs to really put themselves in their situation and realize how tragic it really is; their lives are being torn apart. The Gaza Strip has been the settlers' home for the past 38 years. They have developed deep cultural roots to the land; indeed, at one point in time, all the peoples in the world were settlers. What kind of lesson will it teach the world if the settlers in the Gaza strip are forced out?
Anonymous

As a Palestinian I would be very impressed if the majority of the Israelis will think that way. After all we are all people and we have to find a way to live together.
Sam Hawa, US

Ayelet hammers the nail on its head by identifying how difficult it is for people to have to leave their homes behind - even when international observers believe the area to be wrongfully settled. Many of us here in the US imagine the Gaza Strip settlements to be nothing more than shanty towns set up in a war-ravaged area. What we do not know is that if this area were in the US, it would qualify as prime real-estate and these houses, some of them costing over a million US dollars, are elaborate and have taken considerable investment on the part of the Israelis who have built there. Even if the Israeli government offers compensation, it will not measure up to what the Gaza settlers have to give up as part of this generous peace initiative.
Seshanand Rao, Normal, IL, USA

Ayelet speaks well and I applaud her calm rationality in regard to an issue that stirs deep emotions. Both Palestinians and Israelis will need to be patient - which is easy to say, but hard to do. In the meantime, the international community must be cautious in its praise of the Gaza withdrawal. It is not a palliative. West Bank settlements, which most international lawyers say are illegal, continue to expand and the problem of Jerusalem continues. So, this appears to be a tactical withdrawal not a strategic political manoeuvre.
Dominic Nutt, London UK

Well said, I have to agree with everything Ayelet says. She has an open mind on the topic, a clear view of what is happening and why it is happening and, just as importantly, hopes for a better future for all the people in the region. The 21st Century is for the common people. Now the common people should learn to live together in peace on what little land the world has available for us. Forget historical claims - where we are born is where we love and want to live happily and in peace with our neighbours. Sharon should be commended for his plan but let's hope it doesn't stop there and that both sides will work together for save and secure Israeli and Palestine states, After all - the UK is four separate states and we manage it fairly well.
Steve Smith, Reading, UK