Members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee paid a stormy visit yesterday to the towns of N'vei Dekalim and Atzmonah, two of the largest in the Katif bloc of communities in Jewish Gaza. Excerpts from what they and their hosts said:
MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud), who favors a withdrawal from Gaza under certain circumstances: "You deserve all our admiration both for your enterprise in settling the Land and also for standing strong in the face of the struggle that has been forced on you."
Gush Katif's Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky: "This is not a personal struggle, but rather of all of Israel, throughout the generations. The State of Israel is the fulfillment of the dream of all the generations. Here one can see Zionism at its best - making the desert bloom, agriculture, hi-tech, education, absorption of new-immigrant Jews - integrating Torah and faith. Zionism did not start with the First Aliyah in the late 1800's, but rather with Abraham. We are the emissaries of the historic People of Israel throughout the ages. It is sad to see that there are those who wish to retreat mid-way through."
MK Yossi Sarid (Meretz): "You have no right to speak of 'the People of Israel throughout the generations.' Evacuating you is not a prize for terror, but rather a prize for the People of Israel, a holiday and a milestone. I can also speak in the name of Abraham."
Aharon Hazot of Moshav Gan-Or spoke of being stabbed by Palestinian terrorists: "The memories all come painfully back to me when I hear talk of giving them this land. To simply uproot Jewish communities for no reason - this is a prize for terrorism."
Zevulun Kalfa said that he moved to Atzmonah from the Negev, and warned of the dangers that the Negev would face "when and if, Heaven forbid, we are forced to leave our homes."
Chani Tzadok, whose house was blasted by a powerful missile as she and her husband were in the kitchen this past Friday morning, said, "You send people [including Ariel Sharon - ed. note] to [the Israeli-Arab town] Kfar Kassem to apologize for merely talking of excluding them from Israel - yet here no one comes to apologize for planning to transfer us? ... How do you expect to learn the issues in a ten-minute visit? ... We never took over even one Arab house. There was only sand when we came... I know that if you wanted to beat terrorism, you could. We are strong, we're not Lego pieces that can be moved at will, and we will remain here forever."
Chairman Shteinitz responded that this was the committee's third session on the topic. MKs David Levy, Naomi Blumental, Ehud Yatom, Uri Ariel and Aryeh Eldad expressed warm support for the Gush Katif residents. "You are righteous and great patriots," Yatom said, "and we will fight in the Knesset against expelling you. We have come here to learn, to strengthen and be strengthened, and I have become strengthened."
Levy said that most of the Cabinet is against the idea of a unilateral withdrawal, which is a "plan to uproot families at the price of national despair. Don't despair; there are many people who are with you. I salute you."
MKs Chaim Ramon (Labor) and Ilan Liebovitch (Shinui) said that it was a mistake to bring them to live in Gush Katif and it must be fixed. Ramon asked how the residents would respond if the Knesset votes to uproot them. Gaza Coast Regional Head Avner Shimoni said, "We will fight for our homes - not a war of violence, but we will use all the democratic tools at hand. What happened in Yamit will be nothing compared to what will be here. It will not happen!"
MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud), who favors a withdrawal from Gaza under certain circumstances: "You deserve all our admiration both for your enterprise in settling the Land and also for standing strong in the face of the struggle that has been forced on you."
Gush Katif's Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky: "This is not a personal struggle, but rather of all of Israel, throughout the generations. The State of Israel is the fulfillment of the dream of all the generations. Here one can see Zionism at its best - making the desert bloom, agriculture, hi-tech, education, absorption of new-immigrant Jews - integrating Torah and faith. Zionism did not start with the First Aliyah in the late 1800's, but rather with Abraham. We are the emissaries of the historic People of Israel throughout the ages. It is sad to see that there are those who wish to retreat mid-way through."
MK Yossi Sarid (Meretz): "You have no right to speak of 'the People of Israel throughout the generations.' Evacuating you is not a prize for terror, but rather a prize for the People of Israel, a holiday and a milestone. I can also speak in the name of Abraham."
Aharon Hazot of Moshav Gan-Or spoke of being stabbed by Palestinian terrorists: "The memories all come painfully back to me when I hear talk of giving them this land. To simply uproot Jewish communities for no reason - this is a prize for terrorism."
Zevulun Kalfa said that he moved to Atzmonah from the Negev, and warned of the dangers that the Negev would face "when and if, Heaven forbid, we are forced to leave our homes."
Chani Tzadok, whose house was blasted by a powerful missile as she and her husband were in the kitchen this past Friday morning, said, "You send people [including Ariel Sharon - ed. note] to [the Israeli-Arab town] Kfar Kassem to apologize for merely talking of excluding them from Israel - yet here no one comes to apologize for planning to transfer us? ... How do you expect to learn the issues in a ten-minute visit? ... We never took over even one Arab house. There was only sand when we came... I know that if you wanted to beat terrorism, you could. We are strong, we're not Lego pieces that can be moved at will, and we will remain here forever."
Chairman Shteinitz responded that this was the committee's third session on the topic. MKs David Levy, Naomi Blumental, Ehud Yatom, Uri Ariel and Aryeh Eldad expressed warm support for the Gush Katif residents. "You are righteous and great patriots," Yatom said, "and we will fight in the Knesset against expelling you. We have come here to learn, to strengthen and be strengthened, and I have become strengthened."
Levy said that most of the Cabinet is against the idea of a unilateral withdrawal, which is a "plan to uproot families at the price of national despair. Don't despair; there are many people who are with you. I salute you."
MKs Chaim Ramon (Labor) and Ilan Liebovitch (Shinui) said that it was a mistake to bring them to live in Gush Katif and it must be fixed. Ramon asked how the residents would respond if the Knesset votes to uproot them. Gaza Coast Regional Head Avner Shimoni said, "We will fight for our homes - not a war of violence, but we will use all the democratic tools at hand. What happened in Yamit will be nothing compared to what will be here. It will not happen!"