Gush Katif

Bar-Ilan University Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies poll shows that some 59 percent of the Israeli public said they were opposed to the withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.

Hundreds of former residents of Gush Katif and Northern Samaria congregated at the President’s Residence where President Reuven Rivlin had initially been scheduled to address them.

"The seizure of such a large swathe of land risks paving the way for further settlement activity, which – as the United Nations has reiterated on many occasions – is illegal," UN chief says.

In 2005, Israel’s media was largely exuberant about the upcoming unilateral retreat, for Sharon was implementing one of its dreams: the end of part of the “occupation”

However, we have seen this same song and dance several times before. Every few years since Israel’s withdrawal in 2005, Israel is goaded into an incursion against Hamas.

Any concessions in the face of Palestinian terror will play directly into the hands of Israel’s worst enemies, whose thirst for Jewish blood will subsequently grow stronger.

BESA head Inbar: Another option is to take out Hamas’s military leadership, which ‘might be best, even if costly.’

Just as Hamas uses its civilians as human shields against Israeli military attacks, so the Israeli government uses its civilians as human shields to fend off diplomatic attacks from the international community.

“We wanted to live here because it was important - a place where we could contribute to Israel - and this is the place that we found.”

"We ask that Jews in Israel and the Diaspora continue to show their care and concern for the boys and their families, and keep hope alive.”