Some 200 people from a dozen religious and secular communities in the Beit She'an area protested last night against their neighbor Yonatan Bassi for consenting to head the Evacuation Authority. Bassi, a long-time member of the religious Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, explained to Arutz-7 yesterday that he had responded to the call by Prime Minister Sharon because he is one who "feels the great pain of the terrible uprooting of the people from their homes, but on the other hand feels that there is no other alternative," and because, "I had to deliberate between turning it down and leaving the work to someone else, or taking it upon myself - with a heavy personal price, especially given the circles in which I live - knowing that I might be able to make it easier for the people involved... I spent several days of deep introspection on this matter, and I came to the conclusion that in these matters, one must not think only of himself, but rather take the broad picture into account."
Gadi Durlaher of Sde Eliyahu, a neighbor and friend of Bassi for decades, was one of those who demonstrated against Bassi. Speaking with Arutz-7 last night, Durlaher said,
"We stood not outside his house, but at the gates of the kibbutz. There were a few speeches, and the common denominator was that we - farmers in the 'working settlements' - are unable to see someone in our midst who would help the State uproot farmers who have been on their lands for already 30 years. [Former IDF Southern Region Commander] Yom Tov Samiah, for instance, said today that though he supports the disengagement very strongly, he wouldn't take this job upon himself. It's just inconceivable that a normal person would sign contracts with wrecking companies to destroy the homes of people who've lived there for 30 years, pile the boards up on trucks and scatter them to the winds, and throw men, women and children out of their homes. How can he take this upon himself? He wasn't the first on the list, and not the second. There were many others who were offered the job, and who refused to do it."
Durlaher said that though Bassi said his job was merely to talk to the residents and help them find alternative housing and the like, "I visited the official government website and saw the precise authorities of the Evacuation Authority, and I saw that it includes signing contracts with contractors to raze the communities."
Asked if he thought that Bassi might retract his consent to take the job, Durlaher said, "I cannot predict, but I can say that the pressure in the kibbutz - which is like one large family - is great, and is getting stronger."
Gadi Durlaher of Sde Eliyahu, a neighbor and friend of Bassi for decades, was one of those who demonstrated against Bassi. Speaking with Arutz-7 last night, Durlaher said,
"We stood not outside his house, but at the gates of the kibbutz. There were a few speeches, and the common denominator was that we - farmers in the 'working settlements' - are unable to see someone in our midst who would help the State uproot farmers who have been on their lands for already 30 years. [Former IDF Southern Region Commander] Yom Tov Samiah, for instance, said today that though he supports the disengagement very strongly, he wouldn't take this job upon himself. It's just inconceivable that a normal person would sign contracts with wrecking companies to destroy the homes of people who've lived there for 30 years, pile the boards up on trucks and scatter them to the winds, and throw men, women and children out of their homes. How can he take this upon himself? He wasn't the first on the list, and not the second. There were many others who were offered the job, and who refused to do it."
Durlaher said that though Bassi said his job was merely to talk to the residents and help them find alternative housing and the like, "I visited the official government website and saw the precise authorities of the Evacuation Authority, and I saw that it includes signing contracts with contractors to raze the communities."
Asked if he thought that Bassi might retract his consent to take the job, Durlaher said, "I cannot predict, but I can say that the pressure in the kibbutz - which is like one large family - is great, and is getting stronger."