It is a very tense and challenging time in Israel now. I was there about a month ago visiting family and friends. The disengagement, or pullout from the Gaza Strip, is traumatizing the country. Throughout Israel, one can see the many orange ribbons, held by those who oppose the disengagement, and the many blue ribbons, held by those in favor of the withdrawal.

Israel is giving up land it captured in the Six Day War of 1967. But, unlike in 1982, when Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt for a peace agreement between the two countries, this time Israel is giving up land and getting nothing in return … not even a potential peace agreement.

Most polls in Israel indicate that approximately 65 percent of Israelis support disengagement. However, few in Israel are hopeful that by giving back this land, the Palestinians will move closer to peace with Israel. For the last 30 years, Israelis have moved into the Gaza Strip to build homes and communities … to build a life. Now the lives of about 10,000 settlers are being destroyed by their own government. And this is not even in exchange for a peace agreement with the Palestinians, an agreement Israel desperately wants.

There is great concern that the Palestinian Authority will not be able to control security in Gaza. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations continue to attack Israel from Gaza and vow to continue to do so even after Israel’s withdrawal. Israel fears that these attacks will be more severe as Israeli troops will be farther away and the terrorists will be closer to Israel’s border thus being able to shoot rockets deeper within Israel’s territory.

The situation is sad. Yet I, like the majority of Israelis and the majority of American Jews, support the disengagement. Israel is our democratic Jewish homeland. Israel cherishes its identity and its democracy. The 10,000 Jewish settlers in Gaza live alongside 1 to 11/2 million Palestinians. Israel, the Jewish homeland, cannot absorb so many Palestinians, many of whom are hostile to Israel’s very existence. And Israel, as a democracy, cannot remain an occupier of those who have the right to their own country, to their own self-determination. Also the Israeli army is stretching itself to patrol the 10,000 settlers within a largely Palestinian area. I hope that the Palestinian Authority will establish its own democratic state committed to live alongside Israel in peace. However, I do not see this happening soon, despite Israel’s efforts, sacrifices and strong desires for peace.

Last month, the world witnessed the attacks on both the London transportation system and the Egyptian resort community of Sharma sheik. Both acts of terrorism and destruction were committed by Islamic fundamentalist groups, including Al-Qaida and Islamic Brotherhood and other affiliated groups who share similar goals. Those goals include the destabilization of Western democracies, the random killing of people who might oppose their objectives, and the establishment of an Islamic empire or even world domination.

Fanaticism and extremism must not rule our world. Israel is governed by a moderate majority who support the disengagement and who hope for peace. Israel is making enormous sacrifices and taking many risks in order to make progress along the path for peace. Israel’s actions prove that its main goal is to live in peace.

We are living in a very frightening world at a very frightening time.

We must actively declare our desire for peace and freedom and maintain our strength against a culture of death that seeks to undermine our world. This balance is most difficult to achieve. However, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank are concrete steps showing Israel’s understanding of the Palestinian’s right to establish their own state. Now it is up to the Palestinians to take their land and make, for themselves, with the support of so much of the world, a productive, peaceful, stable and democratic state.

I hope that this will not be another wasted opportunity where extremism prevails and violence continues to dominate.

Israel is showing its willingness and its ability to make concessions. Can the Palestinians do the same by ending the terrorism and the violence in their midst, by establishing positive relations with Israel, Europe and the rest of the world, and by finding jobs and food for her people instead of death and suffering?

Time will tell. I support Israel’s courage in continuing to act for peace.

Rabbi Barry Krieger is the rabbinic facilitator for the Hillel organization at the University of Maine in Orono. He may be reached via bkrieger56@aol.com. Voices is a weekly commentary by Maine people who explore issues affecting spirituality and religious life.