The debate was held in time for the opening of the Knesset’s winter session. Apart from the secretaries of the dismantled communities of Gush Katif and northern Samaria, other representatives were also present. Various suggestions for a permanent solution to the evictees’ housing problems were raised.
Community leaders spoke about the urgent need to move the families out of the hotels where they are currently housed. They raised harsh criticisms of the situation, describing a very bleak picture. Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky of Neve Dekalim stated that it was impossible to lead a normal life in a hotel, where the whole family has to share one room and there is no privacy.
The secretary of Gadid stated that, “the Agriculture Ministry has refused to allocate land for farming in the south of the country, and doesn’t permit the employment of Thai workers in order to set up new farming communities. How can we possibly start over like this?”
Rafi Seri, representative of the Council of Communities, said that there was no communication between the social welfare authorities and the evictees. This could be seen from the way in which the evictees had been scattered around the country and the authorities’ lack of suitable solutions to the situation. “We have been compelled to set up our own, independent welfare authority, basically funded by donations,” Seri stated.
Many MKs have decided to work together and use all of their parliamentary connections to ensure that the issue is not dropped from the Knesset agenda until suitable solutions to the problems faced by the evictees have been found. A joint political faction will be set up to force the government to resolve these issues as soon as possible.
Among those present were MKs from the National Union Party, as well as representatives from other parties, including Ayoub Kara (Likud), Yair Peretz (Shas), Yuri Stern (National Union), Uzi Landau (Likud) and Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism).
During the debate, the forum met with Knesset Chairman Ruby Rivlin. They presented him with a full report of the government’s failures in dealing with the situation of the evictees.
MK Uri Ariel, who initiated the debate, stated, “We would like to facilitate and improve the evictees’ current situation. Just this week, the hotels announced that the evictees will have to leave by October 31st because the government has not transferred any money [to the hoteliers]. They can’t even get to their possessions that are currently stored in containers. These people are suffering every day. During the winter session we will do whatever we can to put an end to this.”
MK Ruby Rivlin stated, “We want and can get involved, and we will do our utmost to ease the suffering of the evictees. We are in ongoing contact with the director of the Prime Minister’s Office.”
Referring to the Likud’s current situation, Rivlin added that on Sunday the prime minister would be holding a meeting to unite Likud Knesset members. “At the same time, I intend to meet with the people who were expelled from Gush [Katif] and organize a tour to visit them. The Likud is in an absurd situation. Everyone used to join us in our struggles, but we are now finding ourselves joining with others,” Rivlin said.
Community leaders spoke about the urgent need to move the families out of the hotels where they are currently housed. They raised harsh criticisms of the situation, describing a very bleak picture. Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky of Neve Dekalim stated that it was impossible to lead a normal life in a hotel, where the whole family has to share one room and there is no privacy.
The secretary of Gadid stated that, “the Agriculture Ministry has refused to allocate land for farming in the south of the country, and doesn’t permit the employment of Thai workers in order to set up new farming communities. How can we possibly start over like this?”
Rafi Seri, representative of the Council of Communities, said that there was no communication between the social welfare authorities and the evictees. This could be seen from the way in which the evictees had been scattered around the country and the authorities’ lack of suitable solutions to the situation. “We have been compelled to set up our own, independent welfare authority, basically funded by donations,” Seri stated.
Many MKs have decided to work together and use all of their parliamentary connections to ensure that the issue is not dropped from the Knesset agenda until suitable solutions to the problems faced by the evictees have been found. A joint political faction will be set up to force the government to resolve these issues as soon as possible.
Among those present were MKs from the National Union Party, as well as representatives from other parties, including Ayoub Kara (Likud), Yair Peretz (Shas), Yuri Stern (National Union), Uzi Landau (Likud) and Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism).
During the debate, the forum met with Knesset Chairman Ruby Rivlin. They presented him with a full report of the government’s failures in dealing with the situation of the evictees.
MK Uri Ariel, who initiated the debate, stated, “We would like to facilitate and improve the evictees’ current situation. Just this week, the hotels announced that the evictees will have to leave by October 31st because the government has not transferred any money [to the hoteliers]. They can’t even get to their possessions that are currently stored in containers. These people are suffering every day. During the winter session we will do whatever we can to put an end to this.”
MK Ruby Rivlin stated, “We want and can get involved, and we will do our utmost to ease the suffering of the evictees. We are in ongoing contact with the director of the Prime Minister’s Office.”
Referring to the Likud’s current situation, Rivlin added that on Sunday the prime minister would be holding a meeting to unite Likud Knesset members. “At the same time, I intend to meet with the people who were expelled from Gush [Katif] and organize a tour to visit them. The Likud is in an absurd situation. Everyone used to join us in our struggles, but we are now finding ourselves joining with others,” Rivlin said.