"We visited Kfar Darom, Shirat HaYam, and other communities - it was the first time I was ever there. For me, it was like seeing the beginning of Zionism as I imagined it: the farmers, the people who get up and do things... the beautiful homes of N'vei Dekalim - a simply wondrous thing. I saw people with vision, and despite the rumors of disengagement, they continue to invest their time and resources, even though one can see the uncertainty... The visit didn't change my mind, however: I still support, for lack of choice, the unilateral withdrawal. We have no partner on the other side [the Arabs], and so we must take action. I do demand that the government make a decision as quickly as possible, because it's not fair to leave the residents hanging this way."
Arutz-7: "In light of yesterday's attack, which originated in Gaza despite the fence that surrounds the whole area, and which could have caused hundreds of deaths - are you not concerned with what is liable to happen in Gaza if the IDF leaves, with the terrorists doing whatever they want and manufacturing as many weapons as they please?"
Ratzabi: "No, the opposite is true: Even though we're saying that it will be unilateral, it will not stand on its own. There are [Israeli] contacts with Egypt and the U.S., and we will take the better people [in the PA] who can take control of the area - people like Muhammed Dahlan -"
A-7: "You want to rely on Dahlan? We haven't exactly had great experience with him fighting Hamas, or even the Al Aqsa Brigades..."
Ratzabi: "I believe in reality. If Dahlan wants to take control, as he says - not for peace but because he wants to be in charge - then he won't want to let Hamas disturb him."
A-7: "This is the same reasoning we heard when they wanted to sell us Oslo - that Arafat wants to rule and that he'll fight Hamas, etc. The fact is that they don't want civil war, so why do you think that Dahlan will act any differently?"
Ratzabi: "Because he wants to rule."
A-7: "Arafat also wanted to rule."
Ratzabi: "OK, he wants... don't forget that they come from different generations; Dahlan is younger, more ambitious, and possibly more educated. What other alternative do we have? I don't see any other alternative. We can't continue sitting there 'on the sword.' The Jewish residents are comfortable there because they're used to it, but we also have lots of army there, and children who might be in danger... I see no reason to stay there. Judea and Samaria might be a different story - it's the Land of our Fathers, and 1,000 other reasons. But not this area...
A-7: "Doesn't the State of Israel have obligations to the residents it sent to live there over the years?"
Ratzabi: "It certainly does, and I wanted to say this at the beginning: It must make a decision quickly, and must find them alternative housing that is worthy - not just compensation or money, but entire communities - and that's why I don't see this happening so quickly.
A-7: "It won't be so easy for 50- and 60-year-olds to start a new community at this stage in their lives."
Ratzabi: "They have no choice. What, should we just leave them there? The reality is stronger than everything."
A-7: "So from your standpoint, retreat is the answer."
Ratzabi: "I don't see it as retreat, but as evacuation."
A-7: "From your standpoint, can we also solve in this manner the problem of Arab towns that are located inconveniently?"
Ratzabi: "If you're talking about transfer of population - let's not talk about this, I don't see this happening, if not by agreement...
Arutz-7: "In light of yesterday's attack, which originated in Gaza despite the fence that surrounds the whole area, and which could have caused hundreds of deaths - are you not concerned with what is liable to happen in Gaza if the IDF leaves, with the terrorists doing whatever they want and manufacturing as many weapons as they please?"
Ratzabi: "No, the opposite is true: Even though we're saying that it will be unilateral, it will not stand on its own. There are [Israeli] contacts with Egypt and the U.S., and we will take the better people [in the PA] who can take control of the area - people like Muhammed Dahlan -"
A-7: "You want to rely on Dahlan? We haven't exactly had great experience with him fighting Hamas, or even the Al Aqsa Brigades..."
Ratzabi: "I believe in reality. If Dahlan wants to take control, as he says - not for peace but because he wants to be in charge - then he won't want to let Hamas disturb him."
A-7: "This is the same reasoning we heard when they wanted to sell us Oslo - that Arafat wants to rule and that he'll fight Hamas, etc. The fact is that they don't want civil war, so why do you think that Dahlan will act any differently?"
Ratzabi: "Because he wants to rule."
A-7: "Arafat also wanted to rule."
Ratzabi: "OK, he wants... don't forget that they come from different generations; Dahlan is younger, more ambitious, and possibly more educated. What other alternative do we have? I don't see any other alternative. We can't continue sitting there 'on the sword.' The Jewish residents are comfortable there because they're used to it, but we also have lots of army there, and children who might be in danger... I see no reason to stay there. Judea and Samaria might be a different story - it's the Land of our Fathers, and 1,000 other reasons. But not this area...
A-7: "Doesn't the State of Israel have obligations to the residents it sent to live there over the years?"
Ratzabi: "It certainly does, and I wanted to say this at the beginning: It must make a decision quickly, and must find them alternative housing that is worthy - not just compensation or money, but entire communities - and that's why I don't see this happening so quickly.
A-7: "It won't be so easy for 50- and 60-year-olds to start a new community at this stage in their lives."
Ratzabi: "They have no choice. What, should we just leave them there? The reality is stronger than everything."
A-7: "So from your standpoint, retreat is the answer."
Ratzabi: "I don't see it as retreat, but as evacuation."
A-7: "From your standpoint, can we also solve in this manner the problem of Arab towns that are located inconveniently?"
Ratzabi: "If you're talking about transfer of population - let's not talk about this, I don't see this happening, if not by agreement...