The Israeli settlers in Gaza have returned to Israel or some other occupied territory, and the Israeli Army has crossed back also but forgot to shut the door. According to wire-service accounts, Israeli commander Aviv Kochavi said at the Israeli departure ceremony, "The gate that will close behind us is also the gate that will open." It's hard to imagine that such an ambiguous remark was greeted by anything other than disdain by the Palestinians, who refused to show up anyway.

You see, Israel is retaining control of the Gazan airspace, seacoast and borders and asserting the "right" to invade while claiming that Gaza is not an occupied territory. In fact, according to the Israelis it was never really "occupied," only "disputed."

Israel also refused to destroy some 19 Gazan synagogues, which has the Palestinians hopping mad. The Palestinians claim that anything they do with the synagogues will invite controversy so they'd rather just see them gone.

Screw the controversy. If the Palestinians have any intelligent leadership in Gaza, they should be able to find uses for the buildings.