The government's last announced decision was that the houses would be destroyed, for several reasons: In order to avoid scenes of terrorists dancing on Jewish homes, and also so that the government would not have to deal with the question, "Have you murdered and also inherited?" As one citizen wrote, "The very idea is simply too shocking to deal with – not only are they being expelled, but their homes would be given to their Arab enemies? I have no words..."
A third reason being advanced is that the security forces will find it easier to expel the residents if there are no homes left for them to run back to. The army fears a nightmare scenario in which people are expelled from one house or area, and then return to it hours or days later.
On the other hand, both the Defense Ministry and the U.S. State Department are against the idea of destroying the homes.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, following a meeting in his office yesterday with Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra, IDF officers, and police officials, announced that he would recommend that the Cabinet vote to leave the buildings standing. He said that this makes the most sense economically, ecologically, and from the international public-opinion standpoint.
"In light of these considerations," Mofaz said, "it is clear that it would not be right to destroy the houses, but rather to transfer them to the Palestinian Authority."
The Israel Policy Forum, a New York-based peace advocacy organization, reports that the Jewish communities in Gaza contain 1,000 acres of functioning greenhouses, 1,780 private houses, 120 public buildings and 30 synagogues.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice weighed in on Wednesday by urging Israel not to engage in "wanton destruction" of the homes.
Secretary Rice did not rule out the possibility that the U.S. and the World Bank would cooperate in finding an acceptable financial arrangement regarding the buildings. This past Monday, Housing Minister Yitzchak Herzog said the entire withdrawal would cost Israel $1 billion. Neither the U.S. nor Israel has ever implied that the money would come from the U.S.
Prime Minister Sharon will meet with U.S. President Bush at the latter's Texas ranch next Monday, while Associate Prime Minister Peres met in Washington yesterday with U.S. Vice President Cheney.
It is not clear how the Defense Ministry's recommendation to relocate the synagogues in Gush Katif would be implemented. For instance, one of the two yeshivot in N'vei Dekalim is uniquely shaped as a giant six-pointed Star of David, as seen in the photos below. The building is 6-7 stories high.
Other photos of synagogues in Gush Katif can be seen at "http://www.katif.net/katif/katif.htm" (click on the top line of photos, second from left).
The cemetery just outside N'vei Dekalim will, by all accounts, not be left for the Arabs – but it is not yet known who will move it, how or when. Neither the IDF Chief Rabbinate nor the Israeli Chief Rabbinate says it is responsible, according to a recent Arutz-7 report. Three soldiers and 44 civilians are buried there, including at least six victims of Palestinian terrorism.
A third reason being advanced is that the security forces will find it easier to expel the residents if there are no homes left for them to run back to. The army fears a nightmare scenario in which people are expelled from one house or area, and then return to it hours or days later.
On the other hand, both the Defense Ministry and the U.S. State Department are against the idea of destroying the homes.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, following a meeting in his office yesterday with Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra, IDF officers, and police officials, announced that he would recommend that the Cabinet vote to leave the buildings standing. He said that this makes the most sense economically, ecologically, and from the international public-opinion standpoint.
"In light of these considerations," Mofaz said, "it is clear that it would not be right to destroy the houses, but rather to transfer them to the Palestinian Authority."
The Israel Policy Forum, a New York-based peace advocacy organization, reports that the Jewish communities in Gaza contain 1,000 acres of functioning greenhouses, 1,780 private houses, 120 public buildings and 30 synagogues.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice weighed in on Wednesday by urging Israel not to engage in "wanton destruction" of the homes.
Secretary Rice did not rule out the possibility that the U.S. and the World Bank would cooperate in finding an acceptable financial arrangement regarding the buildings. This past Monday, Housing Minister Yitzchak Herzog said the entire withdrawal would cost Israel $1 billion. Neither the U.S. nor Israel has ever implied that the money would come from the U.S.
Prime Minister Sharon will meet with U.S. President Bush at the latter's Texas ranch next Monday, while Associate Prime Minister Peres met in Washington yesterday with U.S. Vice President Cheney.
It is not clear how the Defense Ministry's recommendation to relocate the synagogues in Gush Katif would be implemented. For instance, one of the two yeshivot in N'vei Dekalim is uniquely shaped as a giant six-pointed Star of David, as seen in the photos below. The building is 6-7 stories high.
Other photos of synagogues in Gush Katif can be seen at "http://www.katif.net/katif/katif.htm" (click on the top line of photos, second from left).
The cemetery just outside N'vei Dekalim will, by all accounts, not be left for the Arabs – but it is not yet known who will move it, how or when. Neither the IDF Chief Rabbinate nor the Israeli Chief Rabbinate says it is responsible, according to a recent Arutz-7 report. Three soldiers and 44 civilians are buried there, including at least six victims of Palestinian terrorism.