Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz have formulated a plan to expel the 60 families who live in Netzarim, and to retain a military base there instead. The two concluded that the public is no longer willing to pay the price, both military and economic, that is required to defend the location. However, they will not propose the evacuation unless they are sure that it has a majority within the Cabinet.
A plan to uproot the Jewish community - a Jewish enclave in largely-Arab populated Gaza - has the advantage for Sharon and Mofaz of enabling them to portray themselves as taking proactive steps to further the "peace" process, while simultaneously not totally uprooting a Jewish presence.
Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid, of Shinui - an anti-religious yet not left-wing party - recently wrote a letter of response to a Netzarim resident in which he stated, "As you know, I do not belong to the bleeding-heart leftist camp. However, in my opinion, Netzarim has no right to exist." He wrote that he believes in the residents' intentions and dedication to Zionism and the Land of Israel, and agrees that they have done many great things in Netzarim, "but it is not reasonable for two IDF regiments to have to protect the 60 families there, or for you to endanger your lives every day."
Lapid further wrote that he does not want to "reward terrorism." To get around this problem, he suggests evacuating Netzarim only "during a period of quiet."
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union), a resident of Gush Katif in Gaza, recently wrote in the Yediot Acharonot newspaper,
"IDF officers in the southern region said, immediately after the details of the Oslo Accords became known, that if Netzarim had not come into existence, we would have had to establish it. They said that Netzarim 'enables supervision and control of the city of Gaza, as well as its coasts and port, that are liable to be used as a pipeline to transport heavy weapons to the Palestinian terrorist organizations.'"
Some 1,200 people are expected to arrive in Netzarim today for a special solidarity Sabbath. As opposed to special annual Sabbaths in Hevron and Beit El, which are scheduled to coincide with the reading of the Torah portions that mention these Biblical sites and are thus planned many weeks in advance, the Netzarim Sabbath was organized on less than two weeks' notice. Guests will be arriving from all over the country: Ramat HaSharon, Ramat Gan, Rehovot, Jerusalem, Machon Meir, and more. The visitors will include Tourism Minister Benny Elon, former MK Geulah Cohen (mother of Minister Tzachi HaNegbi), Yesha Council leaders Bentzy Lieberman and Adi Mintz, Rabbis Yehoshua Zuckerman and Daniel Shilat, and others.
Because many hundreds of people had to be turned away for lack of room, Netzarim organizers are planning similar events in the coming weeks.
"This special Sabbath event," said Netzarim spokesman Yitzchak Vazana, "will express the conviction that Netzarim is not our private interest, but is rather on the front line in the crucial campaign for the spirit of the People of Israel, its faith, and the entire Land of Israel."
A plan to uproot the Jewish community - a Jewish enclave in largely-Arab populated Gaza - has the advantage for Sharon and Mofaz of enabling them to portray themselves as taking proactive steps to further the "peace" process, while simultaneously not totally uprooting a Jewish presence.
Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid, of Shinui - an anti-religious yet not left-wing party - recently wrote a letter of response to a Netzarim resident in which he stated, "As you know, I do not belong to the bleeding-heart leftist camp. However, in my opinion, Netzarim has no right to exist." He wrote that he believes in the residents' intentions and dedication to Zionism and the Land of Israel, and agrees that they have done many great things in Netzarim, "but it is not reasonable for two IDF regiments to have to protect the 60 families there, or for you to endanger your lives every day."
Lapid further wrote that he does not want to "reward terrorism." To get around this problem, he suggests evacuating Netzarim only "during a period of quiet."
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union), a resident of Gush Katif in Gaza, recently wrote in the Yediot Acharonot newspaper,
"IDF officers in the southern region said, immediately after the details of the Oslo Accords became known, that if Netzarim had not come into existence, we would have had to establish it. They said that Netzarim 'enables supervision and control of the city of Gaza, as well as its coasts and port, that are liable to be used as a pipeline to transport heavy weapons to the Palestinian terrorist organizations.'"
Some 1,200 people are expected to arrive in Netzarim today for a special solidarity Sabbath. As opposed to special annual Sabbaths in Hevron and Beit El, which are scheduled to coincide with the reading of the Torah portions that mention these Biblical sites and are thus planned many weeks in advance, the Netzarim Sabbath was organized on less than two weeks' notice. Guests will be arriving from all over the country: Ramat HaSharon, Ramat Gan, Rehovot, Jerusalem, Machon Meir, and more. The visitors will include Tourism Minister Benny Elon, former MK Geulah Cohen (mother of Minister Tzachi HaNegbi), Yesha Council leaders Bentzy Lieberman and Adi Mintz, Rabbis Yehoshua Zuckerman and Daniel Shilat, and others.
Because many hundreds of people had to be turned away for lack of room, Netzarim organizers are planning similar events in the coming weeks.
"This special Sabbath event," said Netzarim spokesman Yitzchak Vazana, "will express the conviction that Netzarim is not our private interest, but is rather on the front line in the crucial campaign for the spirit of the People of Israel, its faith, and the entire Land of Israel."