While studying abroad in the Middle East this summer, Danny Rosenberg discussed current events with the locals - but the topic of conversation on everybody's lips involved history in the making.
The communication junior was in Israel one week before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the withdrawal of Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip to begin Aug. 15.
Rosenberg said those in the area were made aware of the effort and followed procedures by the government, so it wasn't a surprise occurrence.
"I saw a newspaper and laid it out for everyone," he said. "They gave the information, how it would be occurring in seven days, where, opinions about it. People knew it was going on. It was pretty clear-cut and nothing out of the ordinary."
About 9,000 people vacated the area, and the Israeli government provided compensation equally between $200,000 and $400,000 in U.S. dollars. Israel will continue to control the area.
The withdrawal came after years of conflict between two groups, the Palestinians and Israelis, over an area of land captured by Israel after the Six-Day War in 1967. Since then, Jewish settlers have occupied the land, which is considered a Palestinian territory, and contains territories known as the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Most settlers left peacefully, but soldiers will remain in the area until a plan for its future is revealed.
Kenneth Waltzer, Jewish Studies Program director, said the withdrawal played out differently than most had expected.
"The resistance was less - both in amount and trouble - than what people expected, and that is good," he said. "It was hard for the people being evacuated, but no lives were lost and there were no serious injuries."
Since being declared a country by the United Nations after the Holocaust, Israel is the world's only Jewish state. Although about 20 percent of its residents are Arabs and mostly practice Islam, they have the same political and civic equality as the Jewish residents.
Michael Perez, a member of MSU Students for Palestinian Human Rights, was in Jordan during the pullout and said the removal of settlers is only a small step forward.
"It's a positive step on one hand, but on the other hand, the move contradicts the move," he said. "It is not that great because it is not that they are removing from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. It is increasing settlements into the West Bank.
"I look forward to the end of the occupation in West Bank and an end of the occupation in every form."
Perez said the settlers were living in the area illegally and the withdrawal was past due.
"It's like rewarding someone for giving back what was already yours," he said of the Israelis. "We think it is about time. This will lead to a more fruitful and free existence in the Gaza Strip."
Rosenberg, who is also the vice president of communications for the Lester J. Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center, said despite Israel having a different political structure than the United States, opinions from residents were similarly mixed.
"Israel has a different dynamic to the political structure as a Jewish state with a different viewpoint on religion, culture and identity," he said. "Like in the U.S., some people are very religious or involved in politics and say this land is granted to us from God, but some aren't so religious or into politics and can be apathetic."
Waltzer said he hoped young people would become familiar with the situation and stay informed.
"I would very much like to see students of all backgrounds increase their interest in Israel - this is important," he said. "The withdrawal is an acknowledgment of that, but it all depends on what follows and what the subsequent steps are."
