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About six months before the disengagement, a few dozen Israeli opinion makers were asked what repercussions the unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip would have.

Benjamin Netanyahu said a unilateral withdrawal in return for nothing posed an existential threat. Uzi Arad was of the opinion that the disengagement would cause a security and diplomatic avalanche. Moshe Ya'alon argued that withdrawal would give terrorism a boost. Moshe Arens believed the disengagement would create a new strategic situation in which Israel's south would be under constant threat from the Palestinians. Yaakov Amidror predicted Gaza would turn into Hamastan and Palestinian missiles would fall in Ashdod and Kiryat Gat. Natan Sharansky foresaw the strengthening of Palestinian radicalism and...