The commander of the expulsion of the Jewish community of Gush Katif in 2005, Major-General Gershon HaKohen does not express any remorse for carrying out orders. The senior officer was in charge of IDF forces in Gaza during the so-called Disengagement Plan, overseeing the removal of the Jewish presence in Gaza.

HaKohen agreed to be interviewed as the victims of the expulsion prepare to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragic events. HaKohen retired from military life two weeks ago and the interview with Roi Sharon of Channel 10 is his first.

“I would have preferred that it did not take place but my hashkafa compels me to this too must be viewed towards actualizing the Zionist vision”.

He added “Jews there worked the land and to expel a Jew who works his land from his home, is expulsion, a mistake, without any connection to the outcome”.

HaKohen explained if he was not in charge it would have been considerably worse. He views the potential that was created as a result of the difficult events, the potential for dialogue to discuss ideas between camps.

The former senior officer added “I understand how important it was to be here and it was clear to me that the way we act and explains what was taking place would be critical. I felt compelled to tell the events of this struggle for the good of the next struggle, those places where Jews are present today. In Gaza we created the struggle that will occur in Yehuda and Shomron”.

The former commander believes the premises that existed when the Oslo Agreements were signed in 1993 are no longer in existence. “Oslo was intended to established stability. This has vanished and only the determined struggle remains. The era of separating between peace and the struggle is gone too. The state of consciousness today is the army is inferior because it does not know how to carry out a prolonged struggle. For the citizens, this is a critical component of the struggle…”

The former commander continues explaining one cannot compare between Gaza and Yehuda and Shomron, not from a military perspective and not towards gaining operational insight. He points out the land struggle over the hilltops from Har Bracha and other areas continues and while efforts to reach an agreement continued for twenty years, these efforts have been unsuccessful. Division of the land he feels is no longer applicable, adding this was a 20th Century concept that no longer applies.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)