Prime Minister Sharon consulted with leading army generals and security organization officials on his new plan - but told them that he was not interested in hearing their opinions. "I didn't come here to hear whether the plan is good or not," Sharon said, "and it's not your job to tell me. All I want is for you to prepare plans as to how it can be carried out safely - not under terrorist fire, and without increasing terrorism. The withdrawal will be carried out in any event."
Despite Sharon's admonitions, some of the generals managed to express some of their objections to the new plan. Gen. Amos Gilad, who served as IDF Yesha Activities Coordinator and who now heads the Diplomatic-Political Branch in the Ministry of Defense, said that though the original unilateral withdrawal plan was bad enough, the current one is even worse. He explained that having the Cabinet approve each stage of the withdrawal separately would merely encourage additional terrorist attacks before each stage.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon, whose remarks against a unilateral withdrawal starred in much of the anti-withdrawal campaign literature last month, was more careful this time. He said that the withdrawal should not be totally unilateral, but should at least be coordinated with the Egyptians. He also said that it should be completed as quickly as possible, and with a clear timetable.
In general, however, the relative silence of the same top military officials who had harsh words of criticism for the original plan drew the ire of "elements in the security establishment." These latter were quoted anonymously in Maariv as criticizing the generals for "being silent and not saying what they thought."
The Yesha Council compiled, before the recent Likud referendum, a list of quotes by top defense sources regarding the dangers of a unilateral withdrawal. Excerpts:
* "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
* "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
In addition, Palestinian Media Watch has compiled these quotes from PA terrorist leaders:
* "The recent Israeli statements about a retreat from Gaza are a proof of the success and effectiveness of the terrorism... An escalation of the intifada is [now] being called for." -- A Fatah spokesman quoted in Al Ayam, Feb. 18, 2004
* "The Palestinians have correctly concluded once again that terrorism is that which can attain their objectives..." -- Hani Al-Matzri, head of the PA Information Bureau, on March 8, 2004
* "They [the Israelis] will find themselves after a few years facing a need to retreat from the West Bank... If the 'Hell' strategy continues, they will be forced to retreat from Jerusalem, and hell will rule in the region... A retreat [from Gaza] will have only one result: The West Bank will burn." -- Al Ayam, Feb. 18, 2004