Progress means withdrawal

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While before August 2005 the settlers and their supporters could dream that the facts on the ground were too solid to change, after the disengagement it became clear that everything is reversible. Even if they find a way to continue building the illegal outposts, even if the local authorities pay for this construction, everyone already knows that this is no guarantee of continued territorial possession. After all, the synagogue in Kfar Darom was dedicated only four months before it was abandoned.

The evacuation of the illegal outposts is a done deal between Israel and the United States, and only the timing is still undecided. Thus the "enormous progress" that Sharon promises for this year must also include isolated settlements and not only illegal outposts. There is no point in continuing to spend money and mental energy on these places, there is no point in deceiving those who live there, and there is certainly no reason to endanger soldiers by sending them to guard Yitzhar and Itamar. Evacuating the settlements does not need to be a reward for good behavior on the part of the Palestinians, but rather a clear Israeli interest.