The disengagement was proposed in by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon , adopted by the government in June , and approved by the Knesset in February as the Disengagement Plan Implementation Law. The settlers who refused to accept government compensation packages and voluntarily vacate their homes prior to the 15 August deadline were evicted by Israeli security forces over a period of several days. The United Nations , international human rights organizations and many legal scholars regard the Gaza Strip to still be under military occupation by Israel. Demographic concerns — retaining a Jewish majority in Israeli-controlled areas — played a significant role in the development of the policy, [8] [9] [10] [11] being partly attributed to the campaign by demographer Arnon Soffer.

Report an Incident. The Israel disengagement was unilateral, and was not the result of negotiations with the Palestinians. The disengagement plan was first proposed in December , by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a long-time advocate for settlements, in a policy address to the annual Herzylia Conference. Sharon argued that in the absence of a serious Palestinian peace partner and amidst ongoing Palestinian terrorism , Israel needed to take unilateral steps to ensure its own security and improve conditions on the ground. The process of disengagement will lead to an improvement in the quality of life, and will help strengthen the Israeli economy.

The Canadian Press Staff. Khalaf, an electrical engineer in London, Ont. Last week, a ceasefire ended the day war that left hundreds of people dead and deteriorated Gaza's already weakened infrastructure.