With preparations underway for Ariel Sharon?s Disengagement Plan of the settlements in Gaza and some in the West Bank, one can expect the bulk of the residents of the Gaza Strip settlements to depart before the deadline in August. The disengagement is slated to begin on August 17 and, according to Israeli sources, is to take no more than two weeks; however, no set deadline has been issued for the withdrawal. However, there will surely be Haredi settlers (ultra-Orthodox Jews) who will attempt to delay the inevitable. Leaders of the Gaza settlements have promised non-violent resistance, but small groups of extremists will likely cause problems during the move back to Israel .

Sharon has undertaken a balancing act, as he attempts to find a solution to the attacks on Israel by Palestinian terrorist groups in the West Bank and in Gaza. Since Israel?s annexation of the West Bank and the occupation of the Gaza Strip after the 1967 War, this problem has increased to the point that one of Israel?s former hard-line generals is willing to trade land for peace and security. As Sharon?s Disengagement Plan moves forward, his government continues to negotiate with settlers over the terms of their relocation. Negotiations have included everything from where the settlers will move, the compensation for the settlers, and access to the Mediterranean.