I hope folks have been following the evacuation of Israeli settlements in Gaza. Sharon's bold move may present the best opportunity yet for a resolution of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. By abandoning Gaza, Israeli will not only provide Israel with a legible and defensible border, but it will also enable the Palestinians to establish a state of their own.

The move has also intensified the sectarian conflicts that already exist among Palestinians and forces the Palestinian Authority to finally deal with violent factions like Hamas, lest they see their own authority taken from them. It has shaken the political landscape there like no other act or agreement has.

Removing illegal settlements and solidifying defensible borders for both Israel and a future Palestine has been the key missing ingredient in finding peace. It has taken the steam out of the sails of the Palestinian "cause" and forces them to put up or shut up when it comes to talking peace.

No doubt, the evacuation will be difficult and potentially violent. One hopes that Sharon will hold firm and complete the work in expedittious fashion as peacefully as possible. Israeli hardliners will regard the move as capitulation, but, in the long run, it will me a stronger and more secure Israel.