O.C. Central Command Maj.-Gen. Ya'ir Naveh met with the residents of the four towns slated for oblivion yesterday, and calmly told them what the army is planning for them. In two weeks, he said, Prime Minister Sharon will declare the area a "closed military zone," such that relatives, friends, and service-providers will not be able to arrive.
In addition, Naveh said, the houses and all the buildings in the communities will be destroyed – at least according to his recommendation – so that "Hamas will not be able to wave their flags in victory from the rooftops." He said that the army will build outposts in each of the former communities, which they will man at least until the end of the year.
A Yediot Acharonot reporter was present at the meeting, and reported that Naveh said, "You will have a difficult period until the actual disengagement. We will try to make your lives tolerable, but I advise you to leave before that." A young resident of Kadim responded, "Over my dead body."
The Four Towns in Danger
The four yishuvim (communities) slated for destruction are Ganim, Kadim, Sa-Nur and Chomesh. The first two are secular towns, while the others are currently populated by recently-arrived religious families.
Ganim and Kadim are twin communities founded in the early 1980's, and each with 25-30 families. They are located just southeast of the Palestinian Authority-controlled city of Jenin, around which a bypass road was built to allow free access to Afula and the Jezre'el Valley. Planned to house a total of 500 families altogether, they were established as part of what was to be a string of Jewish communities in the northeast Shomron leading to the Gilboa area.
The residents of Ganim and Kadim are largely prepared to leave without a struggle, with the exception of the above-quoted individual and possibly a few others.
Sa-Nur and Chomesh are located five kilometers from each other along the road leading from Jenin southwards to Shavei Shomron. Sa-Nur has undergone several changes since it was first built – in the modern period – in 1977. Originally called Dotan, its core group of pioneer settlers resided in the old British police building and in caravans until receiving permission to move to their permanent home. The group moved to Mevo Dotan, some 15 kilometers to the north, in 1979. A secular group then moved in, which later divided into two groups and founded Kadim and Ganim.
Next to arrive were a group of artists and families, mostly new immigrants from Russia, and Sa-Nur became known as an artists' colony. When the Olso War started in 2000, the residents began to leave, and Chabad Hassidim began to take their place. In the second half of 2004, Sa-Nur's population grew by more than 50%, and more than 100 people now live there.
Chomesh began in 1980 as a mixed religious-secular community, and now houses some 30 families. It was founded for security reasons, as it oversees the entire area from its height of 650 meters above sea level.
The Shomron area, Samaria, was formerly the capital and residence of the kings of Israel, commencing with King Omri. Jerusalem was the capital of the State of Judea.
Being "Kicked Around Like Dogs"
Most of the residents do not yet know where they will live next year, and have not begun to make plans. Yesha Council chief Bentzy Lieberman told Gen. Naveh, "You'll see hundreds of people with suitcases and with nowhere to go. You're kicking these people around as if they were dogs."
Gen. Naveh said that the residents would be housed in a hotel in Zikhron Yaakov, receiving full room and board until they "get organized." He added, however, that those who remain in the area after the day of the disengagement – scheduled to begin July 20 – will "find themselves in prison instead of a hotel."
Naveh said that the army presence will prevent both Israeli and Arab infiltration into the areas to be evacuated. "It's different than in Gaza," he said, "where we are leaving and closing the gates behind us. We have no intention of leaving Judea and Samaria. We will remain here in one way or another for hundreds and thousands of years."
The residents were angered at the decision to close their areas even before the Passover holiday, "when all the rest of the country will be traveling and hiking freely." Naveh said he would dispatch the IDF musicians' band to play for them, and that IDF female teachers would arrive to entertain the children during the vacation. "If we have to, we'll send reinforced buses and cars in order to bring your guests over."
The residents of Sa-Nur informed Gen. Naveh that they refuse to meet with "the man who will destroy our houses."
The Security Dangers
The northern Shomron area, if Israel in fact withdraws its forces and residents, is liable to become a "second Gaza," security sources warn. Jenin and Shechem will become cities of refuge for terrorists, and Kassam rockets could be fired at Israeli towns and cities bordering the area. Hizbullah has built a foundation of terrorism in this area over the past few months, mainly with the Islamic Jihad, but has not scored much "success" due to the IDF activities in the area. With the departure of the IDF - whenever it occurs - Hizbullah and the Islamic Jihad are expected to increase their terror activities.
Terrorist activity is currently dammed by IDF measures such as isolating villages, encircling areas, checkpoints, and nonstop local activity by the army and GSS. A senior officer said, "It's no coincidence that though there are explosives, labs, lathes and the know-how – there have not been Kassams in the Shomron. Our control doesn't allow the translation of these resources into rockets. But when Israel leaves, the situation will change, and it will just be a matter of time until the first Kassam lands. The Beit She'an and Gilboa communities will come within rocket range." The municipal leaders in these areas have already been warned of the dangers awaiting them.
The withdrawal is also expected to endanger Israel's water supply from the area. PA elements currently dig illegally, and are expected to intensify this activity once Israel leaves – depleting and salinating the water supply used for agriculture in the Gilboa region and possibly wiping out regional farming.
In addition, Naveh said, the houses and all the buildings in the communities will be destroyed – at least according to his recommendation – so that "Hamas will not be able to wave their flags in victory from the rooftops." He said that the army will build outposts in each of the former communities, which they will man at least until the end of the year.
A Yediot Acharonot reporter was present at the meeting, and reported that Naveh said, "You will have a difficult period until the actual disengagement. We will try to make your lives tolerable, but I advise you to leave before that." A young resident of Kadim responded, "Over my dead body."
The Four Towns in Danger
The four yishuvim (communities) slated for destruction are Ganim, Kadim, Sa-Nur and Chomesh. The first two are secular towns, while the others are currently populated by recently-arrived religious families.
Ganim and Kadim are twin communities founded in the early 1980's, and each with 25-30 families. They are located just southeast of the Palestinian Authority-controlled city of Jenin, around which a bypass road was built to allow free access to Afula and the Jezre'el Valley. Planned to house a total of 500 families altogether, they were established as part of what was to be a string of Jewish communities in the northeast Shomron leading to the Gilboa area.
The residents of Ganim and Kadim are largely prepared to leave without a struggle, with the exception of the above-quoted individual and possibly a few others.
Sa-Nur and Chomesh are located five kilometers from each other along the road leading from Jenin southwards to Shavei Shomron. Sa-Nur has undergone several changes since it was first built – in the modern period – in 1977. Originally called Dotan, its core group of pioneer settlers resided in the old British police building and in caravans until receiving permission to move to their permanent home. The group moved to Mevo Dotan, some 15 kilometers to the north, in 1979. A secular group then moved in, which later divided into two groups and founded Kadim and Ganim.
Next to arrive were a group of artists and families, mostly new immigrants from Russia, and Sa-Nur became known as an artists' colony. When the Olso War started in 2000, the residents began to leave, and Chabad Hassidim began to take their place. In the second half of 2004, Sa-Nur's population grew by more than 50%, and more than 100 people now live there.
Chomesh began in 1980 as a mixed religious-secular community, and now houses some 30 families. It was founded for security reasons, as it oversees the entire area from its height of 650 meters above sea level.
The Shomron area, Samaria, was formerly the capital and residence of the kings of Israel, commencing with King Omri. Jerusalem was the capital of the State of Judea.
Being "Kicked Around Like Dogs"
Most of the residents do not yet know where they will live next year, and have not begun to make plans. Yesha Council chief Bentzy Lieberman told Gen. Naveh, "You'll see hundreds of people with suitcases and with nowhere to go. You're kicking these people around as if they were dogs."
Gen. Naveh said that the residents would be housed in a hotel in Zikhron Yaakov, receiving full room and board until they "get organized." He added, however, that those who remain in the area after the day of the disengagement – scheduled to begin July 20 – will "find themselves in prison instead of a hotel."
Naveh said that the army presence will prevent both Israeli and Arab infiltration into the areas to be evacuated. "It's different than in Gaza," he said, "where we are leaving and closing the gates behind us. We have no intention of leaving Judea and Samaria. We will remain here in one way or another for hundreds and thousands of years."
The residents were angered at the decision to close their areas even before the Passover holiday, "when all the rest of the country will be traveling and hiking freely." Naveh said he would dispatch the IDF musicians' band to play for them, and that IDF female teachers would arrive to entertain the children during the vacation. "If we have to, we'll send reinforced buses and cars in order to bring your guests over."
The residents of Sa-Nur informed Gen. Naveh that they refuse to meet with "the man who will destroy our houses."
The Security Dangers
The northern Shomron area, if Israel in fact withdraws its forces and residents, is liable to become a "second Gaza," security sources warn. Jenin and Shechem will become cities of refuge for terrorists, and Kassam rockets could be fired at Israeli towns and cities bordering the area. Hizbullah has built a foundation of terrorism in this area over the past few months, mainly with the Islamic Jihad, but has not scored much "success" due to the IDF activities in the area. With the departure of the IDF - whenever it occurs - Hizbullah and the Islamic Jihad are expected to increase their terror activities.
Terrorist activity is currently dammed by IDF measures such as isolating villages, encircling areas, checkpoints, and nonstop local activity by the army and GSS. A senior officer said, "It's no coincidence that though there are explosives, labs, lathes and the know-how – there have not been Kassams in the Shomron. Our control doesn't allow the translation of these resources into rockets. But when Israel leaves, the situation will change, and it will just be a matter of time until the first Kassam lands. The Beit She'an and Gilboa communities will come within rocket range." The municipal leaders in these areas have already been warned of the dangers awaiting them.
The withdrawal is also expected to endanger Israel's water supply from the area. PA elements currently dig illegally, and are expected to intensify this activity once Israel leaves – depleting and salinating the water supply used for agriculture in the Gilboa region and possibly wiping out regional farming.