Remembering Gush Katif
This is when a Jewish Israeli government disengaged its own citizens from our land to appease the American President, George W. Bush and the world. Prime Minister Sharon, known as the father of the settlement movement, wanted to show that Israel was a team player and willing to give up our land to advance the peace talks with the palestinians.
Our holy land, a gift from Hashem, was handed over to our enemy who wanted nothing more than to drive the Jewish people and Israel into the sea.
This year is the 4th anniversary of the disengagement and expulsion from Gush Katif and Northern Shomron.
http://www.archive.org/details/gushkatifexpulsion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl-LmSNmOEo
http://www.gushkatif.net/
Gush Katif was a bloc of Israeli settlements in the southern Gaza strip for nearly 35 years from 1970 until 2005. In August, 2005, around 8,000 residents of Gush Katif were forcefully evicted from the area and their homes demolished as part of Israel’s unilateral disengagement.
Most residents did not voluntarily leave their homes or even pack in preparation of the eviction. On August 15, 2005, the forcible evacuation of the Gush Katif settlements began. Just a few days later on August 22, 2005, the residents of the last settlement, Netzarim, were evicted and the Israeli government began the destruction of all residential buildings.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://english.people.com.cn/200508/23/image
Note: When the google page comes up, type in Gush Katif and click on images.
The names of the settlements from North to South are:
Alei Sinai, Dugit, Nissanit, Netzarim, Kfar Darom, Tel Katifa, Netzer Hazani, Katif, Ganei Tal, Shirat HaYam, Kfar Yam, Neve Dekalim, Gadid, Gan Or, Pe'at Sadeh, Bedolach, Slav, Bnei Atzmon, Rafiah Yam, Kerem Atzmona, Morag
Many of the former residents are still living in makeshift mobile homes called caravillas. Unemployment is very high and family life is in shambles.
Check out this link for more up to date information about the Gush Katif families.
http://gushkatifbook.com/2009/07/
Last August, the Gush Katif Museum was opened in Jerusalem. It is located on Rehov Sha’arei Tzedek.
http://www.gushkatifmuseum.com/
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1218710379199
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3581315,00.html
Just after the expulsion, feeling sick and sadden that a Jewish government would expel its citizens, I wrote this poem called Remembering Gush Katif.
Gush Katif
paradise on earth.
In one week
destroyed and no more.
This beautiful land
so full of Kaddosh.
It’s residents settled the land
with honour and bravery.
Over thirty years ago,
our brave army
reclaimed our land
in a victory so bold.
“It’s the law
I’m just following orders,”
our soldiers told the residents
when they came to remove them
from their homes.
“You need to leave right now!”
Carrying the residents out one by one,
tears flowed all around
from both soldiers and residents.
One last Mincha was said in the Beit Knesset
and with dignity, tears and heads held high
they temporally said good-bye.
Was the expulsion the law
of a cruel government?
Or was this a decree
made in Heaven?
Only time will tell
when Moshiach will come
and our beloved land
will be in our hands once again.
Post Script:
68% Regret Supporting Disengagement
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/168645
The irony of the disengagement was that instead of Israel having peace and quiet from the palestinians that the world thought would happen, Israeli citizens in the south, especially S’derot, were bombarded with kassams, mortars & grad missiles almost daily. Last December, the IDF had to go back into Gaza and clean it up. So much for peace..........
Please feel free to pass my blog around.
Miriam
