Sharon's Gaza-exit ally

If Palestinian officials have any political smarts at all, they will be Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new, best ally on the Gaza Strip pullout.

This means cracking down on thuggish elements tempted to exploit the forced evacuations to take potshots at 9,000 departing Jewish settlers or the soldiers sent to roust them out. Sharon does not need any more headaches, and Palestinians know he is a bad enemy. His government teetered on the verge of collapse with a deadline today to pass a new budget. He cobbled together a coalition of votes with two days to spare.

The way is clear for Israel to exit 21 settlements in Gaza and four smaller outposts on the northern West Bank. Sharon, the godfather of an aggressive settlement movement, is the architect of a calculated plan to close some to preserve others.

Palestinians are rightly suspicious Sharon intends to never raze another West Bank settlement after Israel leaves Gaza. That's a safe political bet, but it gets too far ahead of current events.

A successful withdrawal from Gaza is the first order of business for a new Palestinian government. Any hope — any hope — of future surrender of land is contingent upon making the Gaza exit work.

Leaving Gaza and all the heartache and expense it has caused Israel is popular with ordinary citizens. They sense an opportunity for peace that must not be wasted. Public opinion is only one sniper or suicide bomber away from angry reversal.

Israeli settlers are expected to fiercely resist the forced evacuations. They will cause Sharon enough grief without the Palestinians adding to political and public-safety rationales for calling off the pullout.