You've undoubtedly heard that Israel's Knesset has approved the Gaza disengagement plan. Here's Ha'aretz's take.

Update: The Haaretz editorial on this issue is worth reading, and points out that the vote came on the ninth anniversary in the Hebrew calendar of the assassination of Rabin:

Today's Knesset vote on the disengagement from Gaza and the dismantling of settlements in the northern West Bank is nothing less than a historic moment in the Israelis' battle for their home. This is the battle for the limited, democratic, humanist, peace-loving Zionist home for which the founders of the state wished. Hence, there is nothing wrong with the fact that the disengagement is unilateral, in the initial stage at least, and that the dismantling of the settlements is being carried out by the Israelis for their own sake, out of the belated and painful understanding that they were born in error.

This battle for the home cannot be won without it being proved to all and sundry that the dismantling of the settlements is indeed possible.

The vote on the disengagement is taking place on the ninth anniversary of the murder of Yitzhak Rabin, who paid with his life for the courageous attempt to return Israel to sane borders.

This editorial by Avirama Golan about Israel vs. "Jewish messianic madness" is also interesting. [Thx to Else.]

Posted by Laura at October 26, 2004 03:22 PM