On August 15, 2005, Israel began a unilateral disengagement plan that called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the dismantling of settlements in the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.

Israel had controlled the area since it seized the territory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the Six-Day War.

This was the first time Israeli-sanctioned settlements had been dismantled since Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in 1982.

If successful, the withdrawal could help ease the violent Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Janis Mackey Frayer, CTV's Middle East Bureau Chief, answers questions about Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

What is 'disengagement'?

Disengagement is the phrase used to describe Israel's unilateral plan to withdraw from the Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and isolated settlements in the northern West Bank.

The settlements were established in 1967 as a means of controlling and annexing Palestinian land captured during the Six-Day War.

The withdrawal plan was first proposed by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Dec. 18, 2003 and passed into law on Feb. 16, 2005.

Under Sharon's plan, Israel's military would withdraw to the edge of the strip, but would continue to make military incursions into Palestinian areas as required.

Why is Israel withdrawing?

After decades of championing the settler movement, many believe Sharon is trying to appease the Israeli public, which is largely fed up with years of continued violence with the Palestinians.

Sharon says the "disengagement" plan is necessary because the Palestinian Authority has failed to stop attacks against Israelis, leaving him without a negotiating partner.

Sharon says the plan will:

• Help increase security for Israel;
• Boost the economy;
• Help with peace initiatives; and
• Improve Israel's standing in the international community.

Which settlements are being be evacuated?

Sharon's disengagement plan calls for 21 Israeli settlements in Gaza, and four settlements in the West Bank to be evacuated. These settlements make up about one-fifth of Gaza's total land area.

• Phase One: Morag, Netzarim, and Kfar Darom settlements.
• Phase Two: The West Bank settlements of Ganim, Homesh, Kadim and Sanur.
• Phase Three: The settlements of the Gush Katif Bloc.
• Phase Four: The settlements in the northern Gaza Strip including Elei Sinai, Dugit, and Nisanit.

How many settlers are there?

Estimates put the number of settlers living in the Gaza Strip to be between 7,000 and 9,000, living among 1.37 million Palestinians.

What will Israel keep?

Sharon said Israel will "strengthen and develop" several Jewish settlements in the West Bank. They include:

• Maaleh Adumim, east of Jerusalem;
• Givat Zeev, north of Jerusalem;
• Ariel in central West Bank;
• The Etzion bloc near Bethlehem;
• The Kiryat Arba settlement near the West Bank city of Hebron; and
• Settler enclaves in Hebron itself.

About 92,000 Jewish settlers, out of a total of 230,000 currently residing in the West Bank, live in the six settlements listed by Sharon.

However, Sharon's plan will also move towards contiguity with Palestinians in the West Bank, by reducing the number of checkpoints and eliminating any permanent military presence in the northern region.

Sharon has also reiterated his determination to hold onto Arab East Jerusalem. Another 200,000 Israelis live there. Sharon calls them residents; others say they are settlers.

What is the evacuation timeline?

The evacuation of settlers is planned to take about three to four weeks, with a possible further two weeks to dismantle military installations.

Aug. 15: Last day for settlers to leave the Gaza Strip, after which remaining residents have a 48-hour grace period before troops began a forced evacuation. Residents who leave will get full compensation.

Aug. 17: Forced evacuation begins. Cars and other large possessions may be left behind, and compensation could drop by 30 per cent.

First week of Sept.: Troops start dismantling the four West Bank settlements: Ganim, Kadim, Homesh and Sanur.

Three weeks after start of withdrawal: Troops demolish settlers' homes, which could take between two and three weeks. Military will also begin its own withdrawal.

How will the withdrawal be carried out?

It will be a massive military operation involving more than 40,000 soldiers from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and 7,000 police officers. So many are needed because security forces expect many settlers opposed to the withdrawal will passively resist leaving.

As a result, the IDF is expecting that four soldiers will be required to physically carry out each person at least a dozen more will be needed to help empty each house.

On the day a settlement is being cleared out, the IDF will form security 'circles' around the settlement. Unarmed soldiers and officers will go door-to-door, escorting settlers from their homes. Private moving companies will then pack up the settler's belongings.

Will there be violence?

It is possible. The police and army are preparing for it. One of the main concerns is an attack on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City. The Al Aqsa mosque there is considered one of the holiest places in Islam. Security officials fear Jewish extremists could carry through on threats to attack it in a bid to thwart the pullout. To ensure this doesn't happen, Israel will assign 5,000 police officers to protect the site.

In the settlements, most people are likely to use only 'passive resistance' to show their opposition to leaving land they say was promised to them in the bible. However, some radical opponents have moved in to the settlements to fight the evacuation.

Also, security officials are aware that militant groups may want to portray the pullout as Israel 'leaving under fire' so there is the possibility of attacks by Palestinian groups.

How much will it all cost?

Approximately $2 billion US with much of the money coming in the form of U.S. government assistance. Each settler family will receive between $200,000 to $300,000 US and the opportunity to relocate to other communities being created for them inside Israel proper. Most of the houses, synagogues, buildings and military infrastructure in the settlements will be destroyed before the land is handed over to the Palestinians.

Do most Israelis support the plan?

Polls show the majority of Israelis support disengagement although support has fluctuated since the plan was first announced. A recent poll conducted by Angus Reid Consultants on Aug. 10, 2005, found that 52 per cent of Israeli adults backed Sharon's disengagement plan.

Many Israelis have regarded the settlement with a degree of contempt accusing their government of funnelling too much money into developing them. Those opposed to the settlements believe they are a drain on army resources as entire battalions of soldiers have been required to protect them.

However, a vocal minority, including the far Right and religious ultra-nationalists believe Jews have a proclaimed right to the land. The settlers Yesha council says the disengagement plan is "destroying Israel."

"Ariel Sharon stubbornly insists on carrying out a plan that is immoral, undemocratic, and a threat to Israel and its citizens," the group states on its website.

What has the Palestinian reaction been?

The Palestinians say Sharon's plan contradicts the terms of the U.S.-backed roadmap for peace, which calls for the negotiation of a Palestinian state.

Palestinians fear that by appearing to give up the Gaza Strip, Israel will make more gains in the West Bank. They want Israel to remove all settlements from lands captured in the 1967 Six-Day War.

However, U.S. President George W. Bush has endorsed the plan and said Israel can't be expected to leave all occupied West Bank land.