Knesset Member Ariel, of the National Union party, met yesterday with Acting Finance Minister Ehud Olmert, and today with Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz, on the topic of the plight of the expelled citizens.
With Olmert, Ariel raised the issue of the special benefits that were granted the uprooted residents in their former homes, asking that these benefits be extended for another two years. Ariel said that an absurd situation has arisen in that people who now have no job and no home have also lost their benefits. Olmert said that he does not rule out this proposal and will make a decision in the coming days.
Speaking with Minister Katz, Ariel raised the problems particular to those who engaged in agriculture in Gush Katif. He noted issues such as the government's foot-dragging in assigning them lands, problematic quotas for foreign workers, monetary damages due to loss of agricultural seasons, how to help older farmers who cannot simply begin anew, and the like. It was decided that the Agriculture Minister will work to advance legislation to bypass the bureaucracy on these issues.
Speaking in the Knesset today, MK Ariel said, "As far as the government and the Prime Minister are concerned, the uprooted residents simply do not exist; they are invisible. Not a word has been said about the attempts to solve their problems...
"The Prime Minister, in his announcement on Monday that was approved by the Knesset - contrary to my opinion - said something about strengthening the settlement blocs - but in fact, he has done nothing to promote this. Some 25 families from Netzarim wish to live in a new neighborhood in Ariel, but he does not allow it. He has said in the past that he would fortify the Jordan Valley, but he personally stops a group of families from the former Shirat HaYam from settling in a community there. For him, they are invisible; he's busy with other things."
MK Ariel mentioned that he and other MKs have formed a Knesset forum to ensure swift solutions for the homeless expellees. Other members of the forum include the MKs of the National Union Party, MKs Orlev and Slomiansky of the National Religious Party, Landau and Kara of the Likud, Porush (United Torah Judaism), Peretz (Shas), and more. Subcommittees on education, agriculture, and employment have been formed, with MK Ariel coordinating the efforts from above.
Two Shinui Party MKs - Golan and Doron - are helping "from the side," according to MK Ariel's parliamentary aide. MK Golan proposed legislation today that would cause the government to pay for psychological aid to those expellees and their children who require it.
In his Knesset speech today, MK Ariel had harsh criticism of the Cabinet ministers: "Not one of you has visited the uprooted citizens even one time. They live in hotels not far from here, but not one of you has visited. Nor have you invited them to see you. Only Deputy Welfare Minister Avraham Ravitz [of the United Torah Judaism party] visited them in their hotels, on three occasions, and this should be recognized with gratefulness."
Ariel said that some of those who were uprooted don't have "shoes or coats, even though it's almost winter. Their stuff is in a container, and they can't get to it. The promised compensation has not reached many of them, because the Disengagement Authority refuses to give to those who don't sign that they left before August 17 [the date after which the army said they were forbidden to remain] - even though the government has said that this is no longer a necessary condition. This means that the Disengagement Authority has made conditions that the government itself does not insist on - and the residents are left without receiving money."
"Unfortunately," MK Ariel said, "most of the complaints against the Disengagement Authority and its head are justified. The old rule that states that you either succeed or give excuses applies to them, and that's why they spend so much time on television screens..."
"There are many large families among the expelled residents, but for some reason the Disengagement Authority has decided that a family of ten can live in a caravila of 90 square meters [100 square yards] - for three years! Their decisions are arbitrary and reminiscent of the clerks of the Baron 100 years ago... It was only the public at large that prevented much greater suffering; people have helped out in doing laundry, teaching, making contributions, driving, and much more. Thank G-d that all those who have given so much help don't view the homeless people as transparent."
MK Ariel has also mapped out a plan for over 1,200 housing units for the former Gush Katif residents for a long-term solution. He has taken the first step by pricing the plan according to location. Priced at half-a-billion shekels [over $100 million] his plan envisions the following:
* 50 units for former Atzmonah residents in Yated
* 90 units for former Atzmonah residents in Lachish, between Negev and southern Judea
* 300 units for former N'vei Dekalim residents in Nitzan
* 150 units for former N'vei Dekalim residents in Lachish
* 60 units for former Moshav Katif residents somewhere in the Negev
* 70 units for former Kfar Darom residents in Yated
* 60 units for former Netzer Hazani residents in Ein Tzurim
* 40 units for former Gadid residents in the Negev
* 30 units for former Shirat HaYam residents in Maskiyot in the Jordan Valley
* 25 units for former Tel Katifa residents in the Negev
* 70 units for former Elei Sinai residents in the Ashkelon area
* 70 units for former Netzarim residents in Yevul
* 70 units for former Ganeti Tal residents in Chafetz Chaim
* 150 others
With Olmert, Ariel raised the issue of the special benefits that were granted the uprooted residents in their former homes, asking that these benefits be extended for another two years. Ariel said that an absurd situation has arisen in that people who now have no job and no home have also lost their benefits. Olmert said that he does not rule out this proposal and will make a decision in the coming days.
Speaking with Minister Katz, Ariel raised the problems particular to those who engaged in agriculture in Gush Katif. He noted issues such as the government's foot-dragging in assigning them lands, problematic quotas for foreign workers, monetary damages due to loss of agricultural seasons, how to help older farmers who cannot simply begin anew, and the like. It was decided that the Agriculture Minister will work to advance legislation to bypass the bureaucracy on these issues.
Speaking in the Knesset today, MK Ariel said, "As far as the government and the Prime Minister are concerned, the uprooted residents simply do not exist; they are invisible. Not a word has been said about the attempts to solve their problems...
"The Prime Minister, in his announcement on Monday that was approved by the Knesset - contrary to my opinion - said something about strengthening the settlement blocs - but in fact, he has done nothing to promote this. Some 25 families from Netzarim wish to live in a new neighborhood in Ariel, but he does not allow it. He has said in the past that he would fortify the Jordan Valley, but he personally stops a group of families from the former Shirat HaYam from settling in a community there. For him, they are invisible; he's busy with other things."
MK Ariel mentioned that he and other MKs have formed a Knesset forum to ensure swift solutions for the homeless expellees. Other members of the forum include the MKs of the National Union Party, MKs Orlev and Slomiansky of the National Religious Party, Landau and Kara of the Likud, Porush (United Torah Judaism), Peretz (Shas), and more. Subcommittees on education, agriculture, and employment have been formed, with MK Ariel coordinating the efforts from above.
Two Shinui Party MKs - Golan and Doron - are helping "from the side," according to MK Ariel's parliamentary aide. MK Golan proposed legislation today that would cause the government to pay for psychological aid to those expellees and their children who require it.
In his Knesset speech today, MK Ariel had harsh criticism of the Cabinet ministers: "Not one of you has visited the uprooted citizens even one time. They live in hotels not far from here, but not one of you has visited. Nor have you invited them to see you. Only Deputy Welfare Minister Avraham Ravitz [of the United Torah Judaism party] visited them in their hotels, on three occasions, and this should be recognized with gratefulness."
Ariel said that some of those who were uprooted don't have "shoes or coats, even though it's almost winter. Their stuff is in a container, and they can't get to it. The promised compensation has not reached many of them, because the Disengagement Authority refuses to give to those who don't sign that they left before August 17 [the date after which the army said they were forbidden to remain] - even though the government has said that this is no longer a necessary condition. This means that the Disengagement Authority has made conditions that the government itself does not insist on - and the residents are left without receiving money."
"Unfortunately," MK Ariel said, "most of the complaints against the Disengagement Authority and its head are justified. The old rule that states that you either succeed or give excuses applies to them, and that's why they spend so much time on television screens..."
"There are many large families among the expelled residents, but for some reason the Disengagement Authority has decided that a family of ten can live in a caravila of 90 square meters [100 square yards] - for three years! Their decisions are arbitrary and reminiscent of the clerks of the Baron 100 years ago... It was only the public at large that prevented much greater suffering; people have helped out in doing laundry, teaching, making contributions, driving, and much more. Thank G-d that all those who have given so much help don't view the homeless people as transparent."
MK Ariel has also mapped out a plan for over 1,200 housing units for the former Gush Katif residents for a long-term solution. He has taken the first step by pricing the plan according to location. Priced at half-a-billion shekels [over $100 million] his plan envisions the following:
* 50 units for former Atzmonah residents in Yated
* 90 units for former Atzmonah residents in Lachish, between Negev and southern Judea
* 300 units for former N'vei Dekalim residents in Nitzan
* 150 units for former N'vei Dekalim residents in Lachish
* 60 units for former Moshav Katif residents somewhere in the Negev
* 70 units for former Kfar Darom residents in Yated
* 60 units for former Netzer Hazani residents in Ein Tzurim
* 40 units for former Gadid residents in the Negev
* 30 units for former Shirat HaYam residents in Maskiyot in the Jordan Valley
* 25 units for former Tel Katifa residents in the Negev
* 70 units for former Elei Sinai residents in the Ashkelon area
* 70 units for former Netzarim residents in Yevul
* 70 units for former Ganeti Tal residents in Chafetz Chaim
* 150 others