While the Disengagement Authority has been broadcasting commercials which declare "there is a solution for every resident," the first six families who moved to Nitzanim on Sunday discovered that the promises did not translate into adequate housing.
One resident from the northern Gaza community of Nissanit said, "They promised us a large trailer home, but all we have are three and a half rooms for our family of five. The most absurd part is that a young married couple receives the same number of rooms." Another resident complained there is no synagogue, which still is being built.
"The government is not prepared to absorb the residents to be expelled," wrote the Hebrew news web site Walla.
"This disappointment proves that an ideological battle with the government of lies is the only option," said Eran Lehrman, spokesman for Gush Katif communities.
Residents of at least five Gush Katif towns said that if the government forces them out of their houses, they will move to a tent city rather than accept housing that is not suitable.
Prime Minister Sharon responded to the tent city threat at the beginning of the Ministerial Disengagement Committee meeting on Monday:
The government also promised that communities would move together in order to prevent the additional trauma of having to break up close relationships built up over 30 years. However, hundreds of residents still do not know where they will be living in two weeks, when the forced evacuation is scheduled to start.
According to the government plan, the trailers in Nitzanim are temporary housing, and residents will remain there two years before permanent housing is completed.
Residents also are worried how they will find their personal belongings. The portable store rooms that the army has reserved for personal property of the residents of just one town, N'vei Dekalim, will cover five square kilometers (almost two square miles). Temperatures inside the metal store rooms are extremely high.
"What am I going to do if I have to take out clothes for the children or book bags for school?" asked David Banjo.
Government housing official Shmuel Avraham admitted that the conditions are not ideal but added that the government prepared more than 1,000 housing opportunities throughout the Negev but that residents did not accept them. "This is temporary housing, and it is impossible to satisfy everyone," he said.
Despite the fact that Nitzanim trailer homes were built with flammable materials, no fire permits were received. The government argued that permits were not required because of the special nature of the project.
One resident from the northern Gaza community of Nissanit said, "They promised us a large trailer home, but all we have are three and a half rooms for our family of five. The most absurd part is that a young married couple receives the same number of rooms." Another resident complained there is no synagogue, which still is being built.
"The government is not prepared to absorb the residents to be expelled," wrote the Hebrew news web site Walla.
"This disappointment proves that an ideological battle with the government of lies is the only option," said Eran Lehrman, spokesman for Gush Katif communities.
Residents of at least five Gush Katif towns said that if the government forces them out of their houses, they will move to a tent city rather than accept housing that is not suitable.
Prime Minister Sharon responded to the tent city threat at the beginning of the Ministerial Disengagement Committee meeting on Monday:
"We have heard about tent cities. The idea of a tent city at a time when there are places for everyone is a political provocation. It is a pity that people are suffering due to political provocations. The Government has prepared solutions for everyone. It would be a serious mistake to agree to this provocation.”Farmers will suffer more than others because they have not been able to transfer their operations to other areas, and several of them have said they will have to quit their profession.
The government also promised that communities would move together in order to prevent the additional trauma of having to break up close relationships built up over 30 years. However, hundreds of residents still do not know where they will be living in two weeks, when the forced evacuation is scheduled to start.
According to the government plan, the trailers in Nitzanim are temporary housing, and residents will remain there two years before permanent housing is completed.
Residents also are worried how they will find their personal belongings. The portable store rooms that the army has reserved for personal property of the residents of just one town, N'vei Dekalim, will cover five square kilometers (almost two square miles). Temperatures inside the metal store rooms are extremely high.
"What am I going to do if I have to take out clothes for the children or book bags for school?" asked David Banjo.
Government housing official Shmuel Avraham admitted that the conditions are not ideal but added that the government prepared more than 1,000 housing opportunities throughout the Negev but that residents did not accept them. "This is temporary housing, and it is impossible to satisfy everyone," he said.
Despite the fact that Nitzanim trailer homes were built with flammable materials, no fire permits were received. The government argued that permits were not required because of the special nature of the project.