IDF Chief of Staff Yaalon, Shabak Head Dichter, and Intelligence Chief Farkash are just some of the top defense sources featured in a full-page ad warning of the dangers of Ariel Sharon's planned unilateral withdrawal. The ad, published by the < a target="_blank" href="http://www.myesha.org.il/default.asp?lang=E" class="wntu"> Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, includes the following quotes:
* "Evacuating the settlements will give a tail-wind to terrorism... Everything that the Palestinians see as a crack in our ability to stand strong, distances the end of terrorism." - IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon
* "The evacuation is dangerous, and the retreat will give the Palestinians a sense of victory and encouragement for terrorism." - Avi Dichter, head of the Shabak (General Security Service)
* "The Sharon plan is understood by the Palestinians as a victory for terrorism... It will [prove] the effectiveness of terrorism in the view of Islamist elements." - IDF Intelligence Wing Head Gen. Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash
* "This move being planned by the Prime Minister, if it begins and ends in a unilateral manner, will cause us to be seen as running away. We will pay the price, and we will get nowhere." - Former Israeli Air Force Chief Gen. (res.) Eitan Ben-Eliyahu
* "Talk in Israel of the possibility of a unilateral retreat encourages the terrorist organizations to commit more attacks." - Gaza Formation Commander Brig.-Gen. Gadi Shamni
* "We must not fall for unilateral actions towards the Palestinians, because this will not bring security." - Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, head of the Defense Minister's Staff
* "A unilateral retreat is a victory for Hamas, and a unilateral evacuation of Gaza communities will bring to fruition the Hamas dream of one state with no Jews." - Senior American officials, quoted in Maariv Online
* "Evacuating the settlements will give a tail-wind to terrorism... Everything that the Palestinians see as a crack in our ability to stand strong, distances the end of terrorism." - IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon
* "The evacuation is dangerous, and the retreat will give the Palestinians a sense of victory and encouragement for terrorism." - Avi Dichter, head of the Shabak (General Security Service)
* "The Sharon plan is understood by the Palestinians as a victory for terrorism... It will [prove] the effectiveness of terrorism in the view of Islamist elements." - IDF Intelligence Wing Head Gen. Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash
* "This move being planned by the Prime Minister, if it begins and ends in a unilateral manner, will cause us to be seen as running away. We will pay the price, and we will get nowhere." - Former Israeli Air Force Chief Gen. (res.) Eitan Ben-Eliyahu
* "Talk in Israel of the possibility of a unilateral retreat encourages the terrorist organizations to commit more attacks." - Gaza Formation Commander Brig.-Gen. Gadi Shamni
* "We must not fall for unilateral actions towards the Palestinians, because this will not bring security." - Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, head of the Defense Minister's Staff
* "A unilateral retreat is a victory for Hamas, and a unilateral evacuation of Gaza communities will bring to fruition the Hamas dream of one state with no Jews." - Senior American officials, quoted in Maariv Online