"The disengagement was thanks to me - and it wasn't a mistake"

Former minister Haim Ramon, in a candid interview, defends his support for the disengagement plan, attributes to himself a decisive role in its execution, and directs sharp criticism towards Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu over post-withdrawal policy.

Former minister Haim Ramon, in a candid and unprecedented interview on Yoel Heshin's podcast, defends his support for the disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip, arguing it was necessary to ensure Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state. Ramon attributes to himself a decisive role in implementing the plan, stating that had he not joined Sharon's government, the disengagement would not have happened. He describes how his view was formed as early as 1987, when he called for a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. Ramon directs sharp criticism at Ehud Barak, whom he accuses of collapsing the Oslo process and sparking the Second Intifada due to an "all or nothing" approach at Camp David. He also attacks Benjamin Netanyahu for the policy of strengthening Hamas against the Palestinian Authority, which he defines as a "fatal mistake." Ramon concludes with a warning against continued control over millions of Palestinians without rights, cautioning against a binational reality.