This account of his resignation is taken from the Jerusalem Post:
Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that he resigned from the government on Sunday because he could not be part of a system that was responsible for withdrawing from the Gaza Strip. The withdrawal, Netanyahu believes, will greatly endanger Israel's security.
"The disengagement is going ahead blindly," Netanyahu addressed reporters during a special press conference shortly after his resignation. "Like in Oslo, the warning signs are being ignored. I understand the intentions here – who doesn't want peace? But here in the Middle East this is not the way to attain peace – it has failed before and it will fail again."
"At moments of truth a leader must ask himself what he stands for and what he is working towards?" Netanyahu added. "And I cannot be a part of this disengagement."
He commented that his predictions that terrorism would escalate as the result of Israel's policies were being realized.
"Hamas is just getting stronger. They are being credited with our withdrawal," Netanyahu said. "Now we're going to leave the Philadelphi route [along the Gaza-Egypt border], and we are letting the Palestinians build a sea port in Gaza. They will be free to import weapons that will put Ashdod and Ashkelon within firing range."
"Now is the moment of truth. At the moment of truth, a man - a leader - has to ask himself what he stands for. I understand the ambition to leave Gaza and I understand the hopes for peace. But I think there is a different way to achieve peace. This way has already failed. If you want to relinquish something, you have to get something in return.
"A man asks himself what he should do. He has to talk to himself, consult his conscience. It's not easy to give up one's position. But I know I can't be a partner in a process that I believe is wrong," Netanyahu stated.
Caroline Glick interviewed Binyamin Netanyahu days before he handed in his formal resignation to Ariel Sharon at this sunday's cabinet meeting:
Will the withdrawal from Gaza affect the western Negev? If so, how?
First of all, we allocated NIS 300 million in order to protect communities in the western Negev. The very fact of the allocation in the wake of the withdrawal shows that there is a realistic possibility that there will be a deterioration in the security situation because, after all, we did not need to protect these communities beforehand. This is the basic problem and the reason for my opposition to the withdrawal from Gaza.
This withdrawal is taking place under terrorist pressure. Whether or not terrorism has led to the decision to withdraw, the fact is that the Palestinians believe that terrorism is what made us decide to withdraw. The leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad say clearly that from their perspective this is a rout, not a choice. Because of this they are becoming stronger politically and militarily, and are encouraged to continue using these methods.
So, the question is simple: Will Israel's security situation be improved or harmed by the withdrawal - and perhaps also by the manner in which it is carried out - that is taking place without any gain and while strengthening terrorist forces? In my view, the situation will get worse. This is why I will oppose withdrawal when the government votes on its implementation on Sunday.
Enough said. Read the rest.
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