The Anguish of Disengagement

I have been following the disengagement process for quite some time and really have been torn up about it. If you are interested here are links to some of my thoughts thus far.

At this juncture I think that I have come to the following conclusions:

1. I think that Gaza is not worth keeping. It overextends and overtaxes valuable resources and doesn’t provide the return that it should to keep it.
2. A unilateral disengagement may create a huge problem if the terrorists are allowed to claim that it happened as a result of their actions. And on that basis alone it is worth reconsidering because if it encourages more terror it does not serve anyone.
3. The people that are being forced to leave their homes deserve better than this. They deserve more and there is nothing that can be offered that will adequately compensate this sacrifice.
4. When it comes time to actually remove people I do not believe that we are going to see a miracle. The IDF will come in and do their job and people are going to be hurt. I pray that we see no serious injuries.
5. Protesters who influence their children to engage in dangerous activities are acting irresponsibily. It is useful and valuable to teach them to stand up for their beliefs and principles but foolhardy to ask them to risk injury or death.

There is more that can be said, but this is a situation in which I feel as if my words are failing me. I am torn and upset by it and in my head I remember chanting Eicha while looking out on the Old City.

“It was Tisha B’AV and we were in the hills overlooking the Old City. We read Eicha and discussed the burning of the Temple, the sack of Jerusalem and the moment made a huge impact upon me. I could look out on the city and picture the flames, in my mind Jerusalem was burning. I could hear the screams of the women and children, smell the fear and feel the greed of the invaders.”

G-d help us all.