But We've GOT to Do SOMETHING!?

Dr. Aaron Lerner on why Sharon wants to withdraw from Gaza.

A key theme driving support for retreat among Israelis is a view that there is a need to "do something" about the "situation." But the key element of "the situation" is not specifically the Arab-Israeli conflict but instead the economic situation. The greater the proportion of the population that is drawn into the ongoing economic recovery, the lower the pressure to "do something." Thus, the longer the window available for both the education of the public on the one hand, and an improvement in the economy, on the other, the greater the possibility of bringing over the majority of the Israeli public to also oppose retreat.