Summer 2002: The Quartet, consisting of the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations, drafts a “road map" for peace that outlines a simultaneous list of actions required for Israelis and Palestinians to take on the way to a permanent settlement of conflict within the next three years.

Dec. 18, 2003: In a speech, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declares his intention to “disengage” from the Palestinians, stating, “[I]f in a few months the Palestinians still continue to disregard their part in implementing the roadmap then Israel will initiate the unilateral security step of disengagement from the Palestinians,” implying that his plan supersedes the roadmap.

April 14, 2004: Joint press conference and exchange of letters between President George W. Bush and Sharon. President Bush declares his support for Sharon’s Gaza withdrawal plan and adds that, if carried out, it would “mark real progress toward realizing my June 24, 2002 vision, and make a real contribution towards peace.”

May 4, 2004: In a joint communiqué, the Quartet announces its support for the Gaza withdrawal plan: “The Quartet welcomes and encourages such a step… which must bring about a full Israeli withdrawal and complete end of occupation in Gaza, [and] can be a step towards achieving the two-state vision; and has the possibility of restarting progress on the roadmap.”

July 2004: The Israeli Defense Force begins preparing for the withdrawal from security installations in Gaza.

August 2004 to July 2005: Voluntary evacuations of Jewish settlers begin in accordance with compensation arrangements with the Israeli government.

Aug. 31, 2004: Sharon holds a press conference stating his plan for a stepped-up disengagement timetable for the Gaza Strip.

Sept. 14, 2004: The Israeli Security Cabinet agrees to compensate departing Gaza settler families between $200,000 and $300,000 each for their lost homes and property, and approves cash advances to cover approximately one-third that amount.

Oct. 26, 2004: The Knesset approves Sharon’s “Disengagement Plan.”

Nov. 2, 2004: President Bush is re-elected to a second term.

Nov 4, 2004: Palestinian leaeer Yasser Arafat dies in Percy Military Hospital outside Paris.

Dec. 21, 2004: Sharon meets with the World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn to discuss the “Disengagement Plan.”

Jan. 9, 2005: Mahmoud Abbas is elected as Arafat 's success to lead the Palestinians.

Feb. 8, 2005: Sharon and Abbas declare a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians.

Feb. 16, 2005: The Knesset votes 59-40 to approve the Disengagement Implementation Law, which allocates $930 million to go to 9,000 settlers and schedules the evacuation to begin in July.  The Knesset also expresses resistance to a nationwide referendum on the issue.

March 17, 2005: The IDF Southern Command issued a military order prohibiting Israeli citizens who do not reside in the Gaza Strip settlements from relocating to that area.

March 28, 2005: The Knesset again rejected a bill to delay the implementation of the disengagement plan by a vote of 72 to 39. The bill was introduced by a group of rebel Likud MKs, who want to force a referendum on the pullout.

April 8, 2005: Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz says that Israel should consider not demolishing the evacuated buildings in the Gaza Strip, with the exception of synagogues (due to fears of their potential desecration) since it would be more costly and time consuming. This contrasts with the original plan by the Prime Minister to demolish all buildings vacated after the disengagement plan. No decision is reached, and Israeli and Palestinian officials continue to discuss how to handle demolition and who would be responsible for clearing and disposing the rubble.

May 9, 2005: The beginning of the evacuation of settlements was officially pushed back from July 20 to August 15, so as to not coincide with the Jewish holidays of the Three Weeks and Tisha B'Av, traditionally marking grief and destruction. (the date of evacuation, approved by the Knesset on Feb. 20, 2005. was July 20, 2005)

June 9, 2005: High Court of Justice deems the plan legal, in its ruling on 12 petitions filed against the plan. Court rejects four particular provisions of the law dealing with the terms of the compensation to be paid to evacuating settlers.

July 17, 2005: The Disengagement Implementation Law: The Gaza Strip has been declared a closed military zone until after disengagement, and entry by Israelis has been limited to those living in settlements and their closest family relatives. No one, Israeli or foreigner, may enter the Strip without a permit from the Israel Defense Forces' regional commander.

Aug. 7, 2005: Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resigns just prior to Cabinet ratification of the first phase of the disengagement plan by a vote of 17 to 5.  Cabinet approves evacuation of the first group of communities  - Morag, Netzarim, and Kfar Darom.  The Cabinet also decides to reconvene shortly before the evacuation, and decide how conditions in the remaining three groups of communities will affect the process.

Aug. 14, 2005: Formal deadline for leaving the settlements – Tisha B’Av (Ninth of Av) midnight on Aug. 14.

Aug. 15, 2005: Stage 1: Evacuation of the first group of settlements Netzarim, Kfar Darom, and Morag. Soldiers and policemen are to enter settlements in the Gaza Strip and hand out evacuation orders. Residents will then have just 48 hours to pack their bags and leave.

Aug. 15-17, 2005: Soldiers and policemen are to begin evacuating settlers from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank. Stage 2: The northern Gaza settlements of Alei Sinai, Dugit, and Nissanit. Stage 3: 15 settlements in Gush Katif.

Sept. 1, 2005: The forceful evacuation of settlers is scheduled to end.

Sept. 15, 2005: The army will complete military withdrawal, though it may remain in the Philadelphi corridor along Gaza's border with Egypt. Israel says it will control a single entry and exit from Gaza into Israel.