Israel’s announcement of the abolition of the so-called disengagement law in the northern occupied West Bank raises many questions about the nature of this law, and the reasons for its establishment by the occupation authorities and then its abolition.
Earlier, Israeli Army Radio quoted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as saying, “Jewish control over the West Bank guarantees security,” and announced the cancellation of previous instructions to evacuate 3 settlements in the northern West Bank.
The disengagement law dates back to February 2005, when the Knesset approved this law under the name of the “Evacuation and Compensation” law. It was issued in the wake of the then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s announcement of his intention to withdraw from all settlements in the Gaza Strip and evacuate settlers from 4 settlements in the north. The occupied West Bank: Ganim, Kadim, Homesh, and Sanur.
The disengagement plan was implemented in August 2005, and thousands of settlers were evacuated from all settlements in the Gaza Strip and from the four settlements in the northern occupied West Bank.
Starting in 2007, members of the Israeli Knesset from the extreme right made attempts to revive the settlement project in the northern Gaza Strip, according to a report broadcast by Tel Aviv Tribune.
In March 2023, the Knesset voted by a majority to amend the “Disengagement Law,” and the ban on entry into settlements in the northern occupied West Bank was abolished.
A Jewish synagogue was maintained in the Homesh settlement, which was established after the implementation of the disengagement plan, and the name of the law was changed from “The Law to Implement the Disengagement Plan” to “The Law of Disengagement and Compensation for Its Victims.”
In April 2023, the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the indictments filed against settlers who entered the Homesh settlement to be expunged on the grounds of “zero guilt.”
In May 2023, the commander of the Israeli army’s Central Command signed an order allowing Israelis to enter the Homesh settlement.
On May 22, 2024, the Israeli Minister of Defense canceled what is known as the disengagement law on 3 settlements in the northern occupied West Bank: Ganim, Kadim, and Sanur.