What Israel Gave Up in Hopes of Peace - Gaza Withdrawal Aug. 2005

100%

proportion of the Gaza Strip evacuated and handed over to the

Palestinians. [24]

300

square miles of the West Bank evacuated. [25]

21

Israeli settlements uprooted in the Gaza Strip. [26]

4

Israeli settlements uprooted in the West Bank. [27]

48

graves uprooted in Gaza’s former Gush Katif Cemetery, including six graves of area residents murdered by terrorists. [28]

9,000

approximate number of Israelis, including 1,700 families, who lived in Gaza and the northern West Bank. All of them were moved out as part of the withdrawal. [29]

38

synagogues dismantled in the Gaza Strip. [30]

5,000

school-age children who had to find new schools. [31]

42

daycare centers that were closed in the Gaza Strip. [32]

36

kindergartens that were closed in the Gaza Strip. [33]

7

elementary schools that were closed in the Gaza Strip. [34]

3

high schools that were closed in the Gaza Strip. [35]

320

mobile homes, ordered by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, to serve as temporary housing for settlers. [36]

45,000

Israeli soldiers and policemen who participated in the Gaza withdrawal. [37]

$1.7 billion

the approximate cost to the Israeli government for the withdrawal initiative. [38]

166

Israeli farmers who were moved out of Gaza. [39]

800

cows, which comprised the second largest dairy farm in Israel, moved out of Gaza’s Gush Katif community. [40]

$120 million

value of flowers and produce exported annually from Gush Katif and lost following the evacuation. [41]

1

zoo, the “Katifari,” that housed hundreds of animals and was moved. [42]

10,000

people who were employed in agriculture and related industries in Gush Katif, including 5,000 Palestinians. [43]

60%

proportion of Israel's cherry tomato exports that came from the Gaza Strip. Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza extinguished this economic resource. [44]

3.5 million

square meters (almost 1,000 acres) of greenhouses abandoned in Gaza. [45]

70

percentage of Israel's organic produce grown in Gaza – another economic resource lost in the evacuation. [46]

60

percentage of herbs exported from Israel that came from Gush Katif. [47]

15

percentage of Israel agricultural exports that originated in Gaza – exports lost following Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. [48]

$360,000

expected average compensation amount Israel expected to pay to relocate each family. [49]

$870 million

approximate cost for Israel to facilitate the resettlement of former West Bank and Gaza residents elsewhere in the country. [50]

$500 million

amount of money Israel's security establishment spent to relocate Israel Defense Forces bases outside the Gaza Strip and build new border crossing facilities. [51]

[24] Israeli Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Disengagement Plan, June 6, 2004, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/Israels+Disengagement+Plan-+Renewing+the+Peace+Process+Apr+2005.htm

[25] “Israel’s Disengagement Plan,” American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Feb. 9, 2005, http://aipac.org/result.cfm?id=1749

[26] Israeli Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Disengagement Plan, June 6, 2004, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/Israels+Disengagement+Plan-+Renewing+the+Peace+Process+Apr+2005.htm

[27] Ibid.

[28] Interview with Dror Vanunu, Head of Public Relations for Gush Katif, July 7, 2005; Interview with Dror Vanunu, Head of Public Relations for Gush Katif, June 15, 2005

[29] Interview with Dror Vanunu, Head of Public Relations for Gush Katif, July 7, 2005

[30] “Engaging Disengagement,” The Jewish Agency for Israel, Department for Jewish Zionist Education, June 20, 2005, http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Home/#did

[31] Plushnick-Masti, Ramit, “Israel to use 45,000 troops in Gaza, West Bank pullout,” Detroit Free Press, July 6, 2005

[32] “Engaging Disengagement,” The Jewish Agency for Israel, Department for Jewish Zionist Education, June 20, 2005, http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Home/#did

[33] Ibid.

[34] Ibid.

[35] Plushnick-Masti, Ramit, “Israel to use 45,000 troops in Gaza, West Bank pullout,” Detroit Free Press, July 6, 2005

[36] Ibid.

[37] Klein, Zeev, “Haber: HCJ ruling will raise disengagement cost to NIS 500m,” Globes: Israel’s Business Arena, June 5, 2005

[38] Arrow, Minda Lee, “Gaza settler relocation: new progress, ongoing complications,” The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, June 15, 2005, http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2326

[39] Lazaroff, Tovah, “Gush Katif dairy farmer has sleepless nights over cow remo(o)val” The Jerusalem Post, May 3, 2005

[40] Stahl, Julie, “Gaza farmers say government has no plan for them,” Cybercast News Service, April 11, 2005

[41] Ettinger, Yair, “Even the animals won’t leave Gaza early,” Haaretz newspaper, June 21, 2005, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=590195

[42] “Israel,” Freedom House, July 6, 2005

[43] Ibid.

[44] Ibid.

[45] Ibid.

[46] Ibid.

[47] Ibid.

[48] Ibid.

[49] “Rabbi rules Gaza graves must be moved; ZAKA refuses to lend a helping hand,” Israeli Insider, May 4, 2005, http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Politics/5469.htm

[50] Ibid.

[51] Ibid.

396

truckloads of humanitarian aid that have been delivered through Israeli crossings into Gaza since the beginning of Operation Cast Lead, including basic food commodities, medication, medical supplies, blood units and donations by various governments and blood units. [3]

80

truckloads of humanitarian aid expected to arrive in Gaza on Jan. 5 [4]

20

Palestinians evacuated to Israel for medical treatment (including two children) [5]

800,000+

leaflets disseminated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to Gaza civilians instructing them to stay away from terrorist and weapons storage sites [6]

70+

times the IDF warned populated areas before conducting airstrikes [7]

10,000

tons of aid transported into Gaza at the request of international organizations, the Palestinian Authority and various governments since the beginning of Operation Cast Lead. The World Food Program informed Israel last week that that it would cease shipment of food to Gaza because warehouses are at full capacity, with enough food to last two weeks. [8]

0

wounded Palestinians allowed by Hamas to cross from Gaza into Egypt for treatment. [9]

[3] “Israel Increases Humanitarian Effort to the Gaza Strip,” Embassy of Israel, Jan. 4, 2009, http://www.israelemb.org/Operation%20Cast%20Lead/Humanitarian%20Aid%20from%20Israel%20to%20the%20Gaza%20strip.htm

[4] “Daily Update: Israel Launches Self Defense Operation Against Hamas,” Embassy of Israel, Jan. 5, 2008

[5] IDF Unit for Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories Communiqué, Jan 4, 2009

[6] Information relayed to The Israel Project by the Embassy of Israel, Jan. 4, 2009

[7] Ibid.

[8] IDF Unit for Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories Communiqué, Jan 4, 2009

[9] al-Atrush, Samer, “Egypt says Hamas not allowing wounded to leave Gaza,” AFP, Dec. 28, 2008, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g0lxqsuTRVxb3BhvI8lp7w_K5Skg