by Ilan S - Anarchists Against The Wall Tue Aug 23, 2005 20:25 nali at ainfos dot ca Tel Aviv, Israel

Old Zionist settler colonialism had few major successes like
the Balfur declaration; the Pill comity decision of division
of Palestine; the November 1947 United Nation decision
for dividing Palestine; The 1948 war and expansion of Israel;
The 1956 war Sues and first conquering of Sinai and Gaza strip;
and the 1967 war and expansions 38 years ago.

It had also few major drawbacks: The forced withdrawal from the
Sinai and Gaza strip 1956; The 1973 partial defeat that lead to
the peace agreement with Egypt and the withdrawal from Sinai;
The first Intifada that lead for the Oslo agreement; (both
involved international and more important US pressure.); And the
second intifada resulted in the present withdrawal.

Anarcho claim:
"The withdrawal of Israel from Gaza is a step towards consolidating the occupation of the West Bank, not peace."
The forced withdrawal of Israel from Gaza - because of US
pressure was not any volunteer step. It was the result of few
main pressures: First, that of US; Second, the European pressure;
Third, the economic pressures resulting from the first two and the second intifada + internal pressure of significant part of
the capitalist elite.
For sure the part of the ruling capitalist elite most supporting
and profiting from the settler colonialism wish that the
withdrawal from Gaza will be the last withdrawal.
However, the majority of the capitalist elite and public
opinion, see the withdrawal in the west bank to the line of the
fence as the most probable step in the not far future.
Most hope that after a hard bargain the second step will bring peace.
Most probably, the processes that brought the withdrawal of
Gaza strip will first bring the second withdrawal process that
will end in more than just retreat to the fence route. Then, it
may even bring a capitalist peace between the Israeli capitalist
elite and the Palestinian ruling elite.

Anarcho write about the Israeli media explosion:
> The reason, like the withdrawal, is clear. The Israeli state wanted to
> draw attention to the process in order to justify its land and water grab
> in the West Bank.
Israel did it to show how hard it is to retreat and what big the sacrifice.
It do not need to justify its land and water grab as it do not need to justify
any thing. The support the Israeli settler colonialism received and still
receive is mainly because of interests of sections of the imperialist countries
capitalist ruling elite. Lately, when the changes in the conflicting interests
lead to a new balance of powers and interests, the Zionist settler colonialist
project is in retreat - even within the Israeli capitalist elite.

Just ask yourself why the oldest capitalist daily Haaretz give so much
positive cover to opponents of the occupation and even to the Anarchists
Against The Wall initiative. (The main popular daily give some support to
this line though much less, and so are the other electronic media.)

Anarcho add:
> "The West Bank will become more like Gaza than it already is."
>
The beginning of the US and international pressure on Israel start
to show some results in the west bank too.

Though the repression and harsh steps are applied by Israel along
the line of the separation fence, it already started to compromise
in the other areas of the west bank. Just for example, Israel put about
1/3 of the annexed Palestinian Jerusalem out of the separation wall/fence
which point to future retreat even in the Jerusalem region.

Anarcho add:
>With the drain on Israeli's economy caused by Gaza's security gone,
> funds can be used to consolidate the occupations in the West Bank.

As part of the big show Israel committed lot of resources to the resettlement
of the evacuees... Any way, there were never economic limitation on the
expenses in the west bank. The limits on the "consolidation of the
occupations in the West Bank" were always political and not economical.

Anarcho add:

> Not that Gaza will be free. The Israeli state is retaining control of all land,
> air and sea borders. In effect, the 1.4 million inhabitants of Gaza are
> prisoners in a giant prison whose electrical and concrete fences are
> manned by an Israeli army which retains the authority to invade Gaza at
> will.

Israel wished to keep the above, but already agreed to let Gaza strip
be as independent as any other third world state.
Israel will still have lot of power in its hand as supplier of work places,
electricity, and markets.

The most it will get regarding the borders is Egyptian and UN supervision
and restricting of import of some military equipment.

Anarcho finish:
> All in all, this was policy as spectacle, a show to allow further Israeli
> expansionism in the West Bank.
>
The facts are bad enough - no need to exaggerate.
Israel is not on the expansionism spree... It is harsh and suppressing
and murderous enough even when it is on the retreating road.
Ilan