The Special Committee for Strengthening and Developing the Negev and Galilee held on Tuesday a debate to mark the 20th anniversary of the expulsion from Gush Katif.
At the start of the debate, Committee Chair MK Oded Forer (Yisrael Beitenu) referred to the expulsion as a traumatic event that has not been properly discussed in the Knesset since it occurred. “It is unacceptable that such a significant period of time has passed without the Knesset thoroughly examining the consequences of the eviction and the condition of the displaced families,” he said, noting that these populations have not fully recovered. Some are struggling to reenter the workforce, and others include self-employed individuals whose businesses were harmed and have not recovered.
According to Committee Chair MK Forer, the purpose of the discussion was to allow the representatives of the evacuees to make their voices heard and share their experiences, as well as to receive updates from the relevant government ministries regarding the treatment of evacuees, particularly those whose cases have yet to be properly addressed.
MK Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beitenu) expressed her bewilderment over the absence of MKs from parties that support the idea of resettling Gaza, particularly those who had previously voted in favor of the evacuation from Gaza and are now in positions of power. She said the evacuation of Gush Katif will always be remembered as a national trauma from which there is no way back. MK Malinovsky also clarified that she does not support the idea of resettling Gaza, but recalled that 20 years ago she strongly opposed the expulsion, together with other activists.
Merav Horev, an evacuee from Gush Katif who is married with three children, said her son, who was five years old at the time of the evacuation, is now serving as a combat soldier in the Gaza Strip. She said this illustrates the harsh cycle of life for those who experienced displacement and continue to protect the country. Horev told the committee that while the evacuation was carried out quickly, the treatment of the evacuees took eight years. Many of the evacuees, including farmers and people in their 50s, have not been able to get back into a routine, with some experiencing financial collapses, divorces and health difficulties, she said, while stressing the need for a consistent, long-term government policy to assist the evacuees.
Shlomo Kandiati, who was evacuated from Neve Katif, noted that after 20 years during which it seemed that the issue was no longer relevant, it has now become more relevant than ever. He said the events of the expulsion – the evacuation from his home, boarding a bus while being escorted by IDF soldiers, and arriving at Ashkelon Junction without a clear destination – were particularly vivid today, after his son and family were evacuated from their homes, which were severely damaged during Operation Rising Lion. Kandiati said the former residents of Gush Katif believe in the country and want to continue building, but expect actual support, not just promises.
MK Limor Sonn Har Melech (Otzma Yehudit) said that when she was evacuated from the Homesh settlement in northern Samaria, two years after her husband was murdered when their car was ambushed by terrorists wielding automatic weapons, she felt the pain of personal and painful expulsion. She said the disengagement from Gaza marked the beginning of a selective approach regarding settlers’ rights, and that the disengagement resulted in the abandonment of not only families, but also of national, strategic and historic values. Additionally, MK Sonn Har Melech argued that the current security situation proves that the absence of Jewish settlement and presence leads to a security vacuum that is overtaken by terrorism. According to her, the only response to the ongoing threats from Gaza is a return to Jewish settlement, not as an act of force but as a vision of building, hope and sovereignty. In conclusion, she emphasized that in the places from which terrorism emanated two years ago, life must be rebuilt, and in the cities from which murderers came, strong Jewish communities must be established.
Committee Chair MK Oded Forer concluded the discussion by saying that the eviction of the residents of Gush Katif was a traumatic event for the State of Israel, and it is unacceptable that 20 years later, life goes on as usual. He further emphasized that in the current Knesset, there are elected officials who supported the evacuation, and there is hope that in the future, resettlement will take place in Judea and Samaria.
Committee Chair MK Forer said the “incomprehensible” gap between the speed of the evacuation and the slow pace of addressing the evacuees’ needs was a moral and systemic failure that is unacceptable. Therefore, he announced that the committee will issue an official appeal to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Agriculture regarding employment solutions for the residents of Bnei Dekalim and other communities of Gush Katif evacuees, and will schedule a follow-up meeting on the issue. In addition, Committee Chair MK Forer stressed that all the items included in the relevant government resolution, including residential, employment, and public buildings, must be fully funded. The state, he said, cannot afford to abandon the evacuees once again.
