JEDDAH, 17 August 2005 — As Israel began its historic evacuation of settlements in Gaza, a pullout that will end its 38-year occupation of the coastal strip and uproot more than 8,000 Gaza settlers and residents, the whole world watches. Feelings range from optimism to pessimism, hope to despair, joy to rage.

But it is the reaction of those who are caught in the midst of this move that make a compelling picture. Two distinct and very different feelings dominate; the joy and hope springing from the Palestinian side and the ire of the Israeli settlers, who are affected by the Israeli decision. They rage at their uprooting, calling it is “an unforgiving mistake.”

Some of the Palestinians too hold out mixed feelings on this event, swinging between happiness and frustration. It is those who are caught in a dilemma of hope and uneasiness. Palestinians around the world are hoping that this is a springboard for further pullouts from the Israeli side — leading to a complete withdrawal.

But they also mix their hopes with realism, knowing full well the stubborn Sharon may not follow the road map laid out by the international community.

Reactions of Palestinians living in Saudi Arabia were polarized. On one hand, it represents victory, hope, and joy as one Saudi businessman of Palestinian origin Shafeeq Ahmad said.

It is a good move that we got something back, it is better than nothing. I was watching the developments on TV. I saw the Israelis angry at leaving their homes behind. I want to ask them how does it feel to leave their homes? This is exactly what my grandfather felt when he was forced to leave his home by Israeli gangs.”

Palestinian housewife Zahira Attiya from Jeddah is over the moon with joy, “Our great heroes in Palestine have resisted, fought and sacrificed a lot and thank God we got Gaza now.”

“That is really great news,” enthused Hanan Ahmad an English teacher. “Although the Gaza strip is just one part of the occupied territories we wish to free.” Hanan pointed that people suffered enough and it’s time to settle down and lead a normal life. Her uncle, who lives between Palestine and Saudi Arabia, built a house there but was too afraid to settle, but now he is confident to live there among his family and relatives.

26 year-old Rami Khalil Nasr, a computer engineer, who lived in Saudi Arabia for 25 years, sees it as a new phase for Palestinians: “We are very optimistic and we think of this withdrawal as a new era in the life of every Palestinian since the Intifada, because they achieved one of their demands.”

But not every one is as optimistic about the news., “I’m happy about it,” thought 26 year-old Malek Yassin from Riyadh, a Saudi of Palestinian origin. “I would love to visit Gaza and hope that more lands will be given back but I feel that Israelis could take back all the lands in a matter of seconds, as happened before with Ariha.”

“I don’t know how the situation is going to be in Gaza as they will be surrounded by Israelis; who is going to have control over Rafah border crossing? I’m also concerned that a civil war might break in Gaza between Palestinians over who will take control,” a worried Malek said. Highlighting the gloomy future, 28 year-old IT technician, Abdullah Abo Anza believes that the only thing that would really make a difference to Palestinians is the complete withdrawal to 1948 borders.

“If the Palestinian authority agreed on the peace proposal 25 years earlier, we could have a much better deal. Now we settle for crumbs.”

For Palestinians abroad this huge step has no direct effect, but on the Palestinians of Gaza “it will only have some bearing” Abo Anza said. His main concern is that no crisis arises amongst them.

Fadi M., Saudi construction businessman of Palestinian origin, agreed: “Do not believe that I would be satisfied if you give me small piece from a big cake. Gaza is a good move, but we should not forget about the main issue which is to liberate Palestine from the Zionist occupation.”

“After all the suffering we faced and relatives we lost, we will not settle for Gaza. This will make all the lost souls and sacrifices worthless.” Fadi stated firmly.

A Palestinian academic at King Abdulaziz University’s geology department Fayez Grably, who settled in Jeddah in 1965 and comes from the city of Gaza looks at the withdrawal from a different angle. “As a Palestinian from Gaza I am happy that my city is back, but I still see it as a big prison. This is not the liberation that we all dreamt of and desperately waited for.”

For many Palestinians inside and abroad, the future remains dark and ambiguous because major issues remain unresolved, such as the borders and border crossing; the right to return to Palestine; whether they will be allowed to enter and exit Gaza, and the ownership of their lands and properties. But Palestinians biggest fear is internal conflict among Palestinians; this in the end could shatter all the dreams.