The concept of Israelis and West Bank-Gaza Palestinians living their lives apart. Severing ties between Arabs and Jews had been part of Israel's political discourse since at least the Persian Gulf War (1991). It was given formal expression through the construction of Israel's security barrier in the West Bank and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan for a permanent, unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank. Opinion in Israel is divided between those who envision a final peace settlement premised on a complete separation from the Palestinians and those who perceive the need for continued economic contacts across the political borders.
Historical Dictionary of Israel. Bernard Reich David H. Goldberg. Edited by Jon Woronoff..