There was a remarkable interview by Ruthie Blum in the Jerusalem Post with Yonatan Bassi, director of the Disengagement Authority - the Committee to Aid the Expelled Jews of Gaza, "Selah".



Mr. Bassi appears to be friendly, grandfatherly, doing his duty to the State. Indeed, reading the interview with this sensitive, caring person almost made me admire him. After all, he is only doing what the State has asked him to do and he will do so with all his heart and all his experience as a director of many powerful companies - which are themselves in direct conflict with Gush Katif enterprises. In effect, the companies in which he is a director stand to earn millions of shekels with the demise of Gush Katif agricultural companies. And suddenly I realized that there is no kindly Mr. Bassi, but a cold, calculating man behind the grandfatherly facade.



What made my blood chill even further was his sincere declaration that the people of Gush Katif would, in the end, "go quietly".



He went on to state that the obedient, law-abiding, Torah-imbued folks of Gush Katif will take the government handout, leaving with despair, but understanding that this is best for the country. They will understand that leaving homes, farms, synagogues and yeshivot to the Arab enemies is the "Zionist ideal".



Never once does he mention capitulation to terror. Never once does he mention the massive quantities of sophisticated Egyptian weapons poised to hit southern Israeli cities, especially Ashkelon and its strategic power station, just kilometers from Gaza City.



Gush Katif people understand the strategic implications of the Sharon Retreat Plan. No, we cannot -- must not -- go quietly.



While Mr. Bassi sat with his state-appointed committee to uproot the Jews of Gaza, we gave the Jews of Israel -- bent with years of terror -- the "Human Chain". People, ordinary people, linked hands from Gush Katif to the Western Wall in a magnificent show of solidarity and love of Israel. When two hundred thousand people of Israel sang Hatikvah with one voice, tears welled up in every eye. Because we remembered what it means to be an uprooted Jew.



While Mr. Bassi wrote the "Laws of Expulsion", we held rallies in 100 cities -- 100 cities! -- in one night to bring Jews together to cry in one voice, "No to Jewish expulsion!"



While Mr. Bassi planned the extinction of a Jewish community, we held a prayer evening in the streets of Jerusalem. Thousands upon thousands of Jews poured out their hearts to the Almighty to rescind the evil edict. Shofars were blown, ripping into the souls of Jews. No, Mr. Bassi, you did not attend. You sat in your well-protected home on your kibbutz, alone, with guards surrounding you.



We, the quiet folks of Gush Katif, are a sleeping giant. Hashem chose us to be the leaders in the grand movement to bring hope to the people of Israel.



We were quiet farmers, teachers, rabbis, moms and dads. Ordinary people doing ordinary things, while living in a war zone with hourly bombardment. The state you serve, Mr. Bassi, has brought despair because it would not fight the war, but instead chose to retreat. Gush Katif brings courage to the people of Israel. We bring the Zionist ideal.



We are quiet people. But we will not "go quietly".