Katif.net reports that 12 families of Tel Katifa (pictured) have been living in Even Shmuel, near Kiryat Gat, in small, 45-square meter (485 sq. ft.) caravans. The understanding was that land in Moshav Amatzia, ten miles to the east, would be prepared for several dozen families from Tel Katifa, N'vei Dekalim and Moshav Katif to move there into larger caravans. The structures, euphemistically called "caravillas" by the government, are actually pre-fab housing designed to last for 2-3 years.
Last night, the Katifa families were informed that they would not be part of the Amatzia program - because they had already received the smaller caravans.
Quickly recovering from their shock, they said they would immediately initiate contacts with the government to revoke the decree.
Tel Katifa was established in 1992, just before the signing of the Oslo Accords, in the northernmost point of Gush Katif. It remained one of the smaller communities in the region, with 15 families.
The 60 families of Kfar Darom are about to end their nearly four-month saga in the Paradise Hotel in Be'er Sheva, and will move into the Eyal Towers apartment building in Ashkelon. The move will take place this week and next. They are scheduled to remain there only for two years or so, until their new permanent community is established. The school they established in the hotel will move with them to Ashkelon as well.
A strongly ideological and cohesive community in northern Gush Katif, Kfar Darom had set as its goal its perpetuation as a community even after the destruction and expulsion. Their strong resolve was nearly broken down over the past weeks, due to the government's failure to finalize an agreement on the Ashkelon apartment building. Many residents began to doubt that a solution would ever be found to keep them all together, and two different plans began to develop.
However, thanks to their essential wish to remain together, the government's realization that the Ashkelon arrangement was in everyone's best interests, and the finalization of the details, the worst-case scenario of a split was avoided.
Though the families of Kfar Darom, like all the nearly 2,000 who were thrown out of their homes in Gush Katif and northern Shomron, were accustomed to open areas and single-family dwellings, they agreed to move into an urban apartment building for idealistic reasons. "Our goal is to be with the people, to remain in the middle of the country, to be able to have an influence," one resident said just a few days after the expulsion.
Last night, the Katifa families were informed that they would not be part of the Amatzia program - because they had already received the smaller caravans.
Quickly recovering from their shock, they said they would immediately initiate contacts with the government to revoke the decree.
Tel Katifa was established in 1992, just before the signing of the Oslo Accords, in the northernmost point of Gush Katif. It remained one of the smaller communities in the region, with 15 families.
The 60 families of Kfar Darom are about to end their nearly four-month saga in the Paradise Hotel in Be'er Sheva, and will move into the Eyal Towers apartment building in Ashkelon. The move will take place this week and next. They are scheduled to remain there only for two years or so, until their new permanent community is established. The school they established in the hotel will move with them to Ashkelon as well.
A strongly ideological and cohesive community in northern Gush Katif, Kfar Darom had set as its goal its perpetuation as a community even after the destruction and expulsion. Their strong resolve was nearly broken down over the past weeks, due to the government's failure to finalize an agreement on the Ashkelon apartment building. Many residents began to doubt that a solution would ever be found to keep them all together, and two different plans began to develop.
However, thanks to their essential wish to remain together, the government's realization that the Ashkelon arrangement was in everyone's best interests, and the finalization of the details, the worst-case scenario of a split was avoided.
Though the families of Kfar Darom, like all the nearly 2,000 who were thrown out of their homes in Gush Katif and northern Shomron, were accustomed to open areas and single-family dwellings, they agreed to move into an urban apartment building for idealistic reasons. "Our goal is to be with the people, to remain in the middle of the country, to be able to have an influence," one resident said just a few days after the expulsion.