Bizeh and Radzel, two young men from Nepal, say that some 200 to 300 Nepalese workers currently reside in Gush Katif, along with several hundred laborers from Thailand.
Radzel, who works in a nursery for cilantro and green onions, says that the Nepalese workers will be negatively affected by the expulsion. "If the Israelis leave Gush Katif and we're fired, most of us will need a new visa," he said. "It's hard to get a new visa, and I'm worried about it - it will be difficult unless the farmers I work for will be able to start [a farm] again."
Both young men have just completed the first year of their 5-year visas, and hope to be able to continue to work with their employers. Both Radzel and Bizeh send a portion of their earnings to their families in Nepal, the salary here being high by
Nepalese standards.
Bizeh works in the packing house of Alei Katif, packaging the bug-free lettuces, parsley, dill, and other leafy greens grown in Gush Katif. Though bombs have exploded just a few feet from his home and two of his friends were seriously injured by Arab-launched artillery, he says he has not told his family in Nepal about the terrorism in Gush Katif, or even about the planned expulsion. "I don't want to tell my family about what goes on here. I know that if I tell them, they'll worry about us, and I don't want them to worry," Bizeh says.
Bizeh claims to have a good relationship with his employers. "If I have a problem and I go to them, they try to solve all my problems," Bizeh says. However, he says that his boss avoids discussing the government's plans to expel him from his home and his farm. "They don't want to talk about it [the plan to surrender Gush Katif]. They say 'I'm staying right here, I'm not going anywhere. And don't worry, you're going to stay, too.'"
The two Nepalese men say they are enjoying their stay in Israel. "Everything is good in Gush Katif - farmers can pick their fruit and the weather is good," Bizeh says. Both of the young workers have also made time to venture out of Gush Katif, touring the country and visiting holy sites. While Radzel enjoys the nightlife and scenery of the resort town of Eilat, Bizeh says he thinks Haifa is especially beautiful, and he is particularly moved by Jerusalem and the dichotomy between the old and new cities.
Bizeh and Radzel express sympathy and sadness for the farmers and people of Gush Katif who have suffered under the threat of losing their homes, their livelihood, their communities, and their land. "I'm born in Nepal, I love Nepal, and that's how these people feel [about Israel]. We love our country, our nationality, our land. So do the Israelis. They'll have no home, no job, they'll lose everything - how will they keep up their living standards? [What they're going through] makes me sad, " Bizeh says.
Bizeh and Radzel say that they are not the only ones who hope the Jews will be able to stay in Gush Katif. Arab workers who are also employed in Gush Katif have told the two men that they too hope an Israeli presence is maintained in Gush Katif. "They don't want the land given over to terrorists [because] they know they'll lose their jobs," Bizeh says. "Arabs have no technology or money, and they bomb this land. They say that they'll make this place grow, but they have no idea how."
Radzel, who works in a nursery for cilantro and green onions, says that the Nepalese workers will be negatively affected by the expulsion. "If the Israelis leave Gush Katif and we're fired, most of us will need a new visa," he said. "It's hard to get a new visa, and I'm worried about it - it will be difficult unless the farmers I work for will be able to start [a farm] again."
Both young men have just completed the first year of their 5-year visas, and hope to be able to continue to work with their employers. Both Radzel and Bizeh send a portion of their earnings to their families in Nepal, the salary here being high by
Nepalese standards.
Bizeh works in the packing house of Alei Katif, packaging the bug-free lettuces, parsley, dill, and other leafy greens grown in Gush Katif. Though bombs have exploded just a few feet from his home and two of his friends were seriously injured by Arab-launched artillery, he says he has not told his family in Nepal about the terrorism in Gush Katif, or even about the planned expulsion. "I don't want to tell my family about what goes on here. I know that if I tell them, they'll worry about us, and I don't want them to worry," Bizeh says.
Bizeh claims to have a good relationship with his employers. "If I have a problem and I go to them, they try to solve all my problems," Bizeh says. However, he says that his boss avoids discussing the government's plans to expel him from his home and his farm. "They don't want to talk about it [the plan to surrender Gush Katif]. They say 'I'm staying right here, I'm not going anywhere. And don't worry, you're going to stay, too.'"
The two Nepalese men say they are enjoying their stay in Israel. "Everything is good in Gush Katif - farmers can pick their fruit and the weather is good," Bizeh says. Both of the young workers have also made time to venture out of Gush Katif, touring the country and visiting holy sites. While Radzel enjoys the nightlife and scenery of the resort town of Eilat, Bizeh says he thinks Haifa is especially beautiful, and he is particularly moved by Jerusalem and the dichotomy between the old and new cities.
Bizeh and Radzel express sympathy and sadness for the farmers and people of Gush Katif who have suffered under the threat of losing their homes, their livelihood, their communities, and their land. "I'm born in Nepal, I love Nepal, and that's how these people feel [about Israel]. We love our country, our nationality, our land. So do the Israelis. They'll have no home, no job, they'll lose everything - how will they keep up their living standards? [What they're going through] makes me sad, " Bizeh says.
Bizeh and Radzel say that they are not the only ones who hope the Jews will be able to stay in Gush Katif. Arab workers who are also employed in Gush Katif have told the two men that they too hope an Israeli presence is maintained in Gush Katif. "They don't want the land given over to terrorists [because] they know they'll lose their jobs," Bizeh says. "Arabs have no technology or money, and they bomb this land. They say that they'll make this place grow, but they have no idea how."