21 Years Since the Disengagement Vote

On October 26, 2004, the Knesset voted in favor of the Disengagement Bill, in its first reading, by a margin of 67–45, with 7 abstentions and 1 MK absent. This was the decisive vote that paved the way for the August 2005 disengagement from Gaza.

Without getting into the politics of the issue, I thought it was worth sharing some stats on the 21-year anniversary.

Current MKs & Ministers (11 total):
Of the 120 MKs who voted that day, 11 still serve in the Knesset or as ministers today.

• 8 voted against: Likud MKs Yuli Edelstein, Gila Gamliel, Haim Katz, Gideon Sa’ar; UTJ MKs Israel Eichler, Moshe Gafni, Meir Porush; and Shas MK Yakov Margi.

• 2 voted for: Likud MKs Yisrael Katz and Benjamin Netanyahu.

• 1 abstained: MK Ahmad Tibi (Ta’al).

Several MKs who voted in favor remain active in public life, including President Isaac Herzog, Tel Aviv city councilman Avraham Poraz, and outgoing National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi.

In Memoriam:
Over two decades later, many of those who took part in that historic vote have since passed away.

Among those who voted for were Likud MKs Ze’ev Boim, Michael Eitan, Gideon Ezra, Abraham Hirchson, Ariel Sharon, Marina Solodkin; Labor MKs Binyamin (Fouad) Ben-Eliezer, Shimon Peres, Avraham Shochat; Shinui MKs Tomy Lapid, Joseph Paritzky; and Meretz MK Yossi Sarid.

Those who voted against include National Union MKs Binyamin Elon, Yuri Shtern, Likud MK David Levy, Shas MK David Azoulay, and UTJ MK Avraham Ravitz.

MK David Tal (Am Ahad) abstained, and MK Yehudith Naot (Shinui) was absent due to illness and passed away less than two months later.

Closing:
21 years later, the disengagement vote remains one of the most consequential decisions in Israel’s parliamentary history. Its political, security, and social echoes are still felt today. For those of us who follow the Knesset closely, it stands as a reminder of how a single roll-call can reshape the country’s course for decades to come.