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20 years after its landmark withdrawal from Gaza, Israel is mired there
World

20 years after its landmark withdrawal from Gaza, Israel is mired there

  • By MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip 20 years ago, dismantling 21 Jewish settlements and pulling out its forces. The Friday anniversary of the start of the landmark disengagement comes as Israel is mired in a nearly two-year war with Hamas. The conflict has devastated the Palestinian territory and is likely to keep troops there long into the future. Israel's disengagement included removing four settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and was then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's controversial attempt to jump-start negotiations with the Palestinians. But it bitterly divided Israeli society and led to the empowerment of Hamas, with implications that continue to reverberate today.

This day in history
Lifestyle

This day in history

  • The Associated Press

Today is Monday, Jan. 4, the fourth day of 2021. There are 361 days left in the year.

World

Sharon gambles on peace

  • By Amy Teibel The Associated Press
  • Updated

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday he gambled and broke away from his hardline Likud Party because he did not want to squande…