The opening episode traces the road to Israel’s decision to disengage from Gaza, beginning with the settlement project of the 1970s and the broad political consensus that once supported it. It follows Ariel Sharon’s journey from leading the fight against terrorism in Gaza and championing settlement across the Land of Israel, to his dramatic turn as prime minister toward a unilateral withdrawal.

For the first time, internal Likud cabinet protocols are revealed, documenting the moment Sharon presents the Disengagement Plan and persuades his ministers to support it. The episode exposes Sharon’s decision to replace the IDF Chief of Staff to ensure the plan would be carried out without hesitation, and presents the fierce opposition of Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya’alon, who warned the move would signal Israeli weakness and reshape enemy perceptions for generations.

Through Ya’alon’s personal testimony, classified documents, and his direct confrontation with Sharon, the episode examines the depth of Israel’s strategic decision-making and its lasting consequences. It argues that the disengagement set the stage for the Second Lebanon War and unfolded under the looming fear of civil war, raising existential questions that continue to haunt Israel today.