What Next?

I generally avoid posting on anything blatantly political because I know that there are many people out there who are much better informed then I am.

It is interesting (to me at least) though, that the weekend I finally break ground on my next production (with a much awaited first read and production meeting on Saturday) on which I am working with two semi-Israelis, history is being made with the Gaza pullout. One is actually from Israel, the other has spent a good deal of time there and has family in Jerusalem.

I support the disengagement. I really hope it is what I wish it to be -- a leap of faith on the part of Israel -- because I think it is a leap of faith that is necessary to take a first step, really, in any direction. Though the whole thing seems awfully out of character for Sharon. Unless he is just getting wiser and less reactionary in his twilight years. Let's hope so.

Indeed though, the question of "what next?" is burning in everyone's minds -- supporters and protestors alike. No one likes the idea of people being uprooted from their homes. But they had to know something like this might someday be inevitable. My friend D - the one with family in Jerusalem - said what many of us are thinking. Most of those settlers came to Israel from the east coast of the United States just twenty-odd years ago, anyhow. They are not descendents of the first five aliyahs by a long shot. But they seem to boast enough piety for the nation.

As in any religion, extremists trouble me.

Check out these two pieces from the Economist. This one appeared at another site because I can't connect directly to the magazine's site, and poses that very question - "What next?" and the one here provides a pretty clear and concise telling of the issues at hand.