On the morning of Aug. 15, 2005, Israeli security forces entered the Gaza Strip settlement of Neve Dekalim, beginning the evacuation of about 9,000 residents from 21 Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip and four in northern Samaria. The country was deeply divided over the policy of unilaterally leaving the settlements. Regardless of their views, Israelis were glued to their televisions as the evacuation proceeded over the following week. Residents, sympathetic outsiders brought in to protest and resist, and the security forces executing the government's evacuation plan, each played their roles in a surreal political theater of carefully choreographed demonstrations, resistance that was at times violent but that resulted in few injuries and no deaths, and, finally, heartbreaking scenes of families leaving their homes forever. In the 10 tumultuous years that have passed since the disengagement, Hamas has taken control of the Gaza Strip, more than 17,000 rockets and mortars have been fired into Israel from Gaza, Israel and Egypt have put the territory under blockade, and Gaza and Israel have seen multiple rounds of fighting, including Operations Cast Lead, Pillar of Defense, and Protective Edge. What was the real reason for the disengagement? Has it proved to be a mistake? What lessons can be learned from this pivotal event in Israeli history- Political and military analyst Maj. (res.) Elliot Chodoff, VoiceofIsrael.com web editor Ruthie Blum, and opinion editor Steve Ganot look back at the disengagement and the 10 years that have followed. Anchor: Steve Ganot. Camera: Doron Persaud. Makeup: Meirav Darzi Meiri. Archive: Reuters.
