Marking three years since they were thrown out of Gush Katif under Sharon's Disengagement plan, former residents of Kfar Yam, Netzer Hazani, and other destroyed Jewish towns plan to return and rebuild.

A seed group that plans to rebuild Kfar Yam - a tiny seaside community, just south of the former Gush Katif "capital" of N'vei Dekalim - is led by the Yitzchaki and Naveh families.  It also numbers tens of people who came to live there just months or weeks before the expulsion was carried out. 

Kfar Yam ex-resident Aryeh Yitzchaki made headlines during the struggle against the Disengagement by threatening not to leave alive - and also by heading a grassroots organization that brought and housed hundreds of youths to Gush Katif to protest and resist the expulsion.  "The dozens of people who came to Kfar Yam before the expulsion," he said, "did not disperse afterwards, but rather remained a cohesive group, and even absorbed more people, mainly from Gush Etzion."

Aryeh and his wife Datia have been living for the last two years in Gush Etzion, where Datia has been active in Land of Israel causes such as keeping the Shdemah Army Base under Israeli control and protesting the incarceration of teenaged girls arrested during various protests and Land of Israel events.  Despite this, she is ready to return to Gush Katif at any time.

"It is clear to everyone," she told IsraelNationalNews, "that the situation in Gaza can't continue as it is, with Hamas fighting both Fatah and Israel. At some point, Israel will have to intervene - and once a Jewish stronghold is established, we will follow right behind."

Barak: Gaza Offensive Will Come

Military and political figures have been talking for nearly two years about the likely need for an Israeli military offensive to liquidate the growing Hamas military capability in Gaza.  Even as recently as two days ago, two full months into the temporary ceasefire with Hamas, Defense Minister Barak told a Labor Party gathering, "Those who yearn for an operation in Gaza need not worry; it will yet have to come."

The Kfar Yam group, which also includes two couples that met during the struggle against the Disengagement and married afterwards, has gotten together several times over the past three years. They held a Kfar Yam Sabbath a year ago this month, and another gathering last Tu B'Shvat.

Netzer Hazani as Well

Another settlement group is planning to return to and rebuild Netzer Hazani, the oldest of the 21 Gush Katif communities destroyed in the summer of 2005. Father-of-five Aviel Tucker - who was born in Netzer Hazani 30 years ago when it was nothing more than sand dunes, a couple of houses, and some primitive hothouses - is organizing the drive.

Getting the Public Used to the Idea

Land of Israel activist Boaz HaEtzni says that there are many others who are ready to make the move as well.  "The moment that it is possible, we will do it, without asking anyone," he said.  "The idea is to replicate the success we had with Homesh [one of the four northern Shomron towns that were destroyed in the Disengagement].  In Homesh, we succeeded in popularizing in the public awareness the idea that we will return, and now we want to do the same thing with Gush Katif.  People should get used to the idea that we will return, even if we don't know the exact date."

Reminded that the army is not likely to allow Jewish settlers to enter Gaza in its wake, HaEtzni said, "We're not asking anyone.  If it's not possible, we won't do it, but we plan to do everything we can.  We want to keep Gush Katif on the map."

MK Hendel

MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union), who lived in Ganei Tal for over 20 years until being expelled together with the other nearly 9,000 Jews, predicts that "at the very least, 80% of those who lived in Gush Katif want to return to their homes when it becomes possible."