From Haaretz:
The Knesset on Tuesday evening approved Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan by a majority of 67-45. ... Twenty-three Likud MKs voted in favor of the plan, while 17 voted against it. A total of 21 Labor and One Nation MKs voted in favor, as did 14 Shinui MKs, six Yahad MKs, two United Arab List members and one National Union MK (Michael Nuddelman). All eleven Shas MKs voted against the plan, on the orders of the party's spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, as did six National Religious Party members, six National Union MKs and five United Torah Judaism Mks. Three Hadash MKs and three Balad MKs abstained, as did one One Nation MK.
From another article:
The bulk of the bill, which was drafted by an interministerial task force, outlines how the compensation to be paid to evacuated settlers will be determined. This compensation is expected to average some $330,000 per family. The bill also authorizes the prime minister, with the cabinet's approval, to decide which settlements to evacuate and when, and authorizes the prime minister alone, after consultations with the defense and public security ministers, to declare areas slated for evacuation off-limits to anyone who does not live there.
I'm still uncertain about the pullout plan- I'm viscerally in favor of it, but I recognize there are good arguments against it, both factual and emotional (and presumably, Halachic.)
Like the "fence" itself, I think it is probably the "least bad option," and I hope it is administered (and accepted) with wisdom, compassion, and a love of Klal Yisroel.
And additionally, I hope it energizes whatever remaining or nascent desire there is among the Palestinians for a peaceful two-state solution, and that they are able to forge a civil society focused on improving their own lives, rather than destroying the lives of others.
HT - Laurence



