Activities Session Five – Experiential Environment

A1. Pnina and Uzi & family

The family owns and operates hothouses in a Gush Katif settlement, Uzi has a degree in Law and an MA in Business Management. Pnina works as a social worker outside the settlement. The children are at high school.

Position:
We are a couple from mixed backgrounds and are traditional-religious. We came here 18 years ago, living in caravans like pioneers, and have established ourselves, taking root in Gush Katif - our first and only home as a couple and a family. We are Zionists, we love our home and our life here, it has been difficult, but we persevered and have coped with all of it very well.

We see things a bit differently today, if there is no future for us in the Gaza Strip with the movement towards a Palestinian state, sooner or later we will have to leave. We therefore agree to leave everything we have built here, although it will be difficult, not as simple as moving house and a business - although we need sufficient compensation and assistance to cover moving the hothouses, schools and our home. We have the information, and we are waiting for the government and Sela to offer us more for the business and its relocation - they brought us here, we shouldn't have to be out of pocket if they want us to leave.

It's not a welcome decision by the government, but it's one that was voted by a democratic majority, after a lot of hassle and media hype. The government didn't have much choice, either.

We definitely want to do it in an organized manner and together with as many other families as possible: It's important that our children experience the least possible trauma and are accepted at good schools for next year, and the same goes for other people. We are very concerned about the impact of the media and any violence on our own children and have discussed it with them, they are old enough to understand.

A2. Sarah and Shimon & family

The family has been here 28 years, since the first settlement in Gush Katif, raised a family and have grandchildren here, we have three generations here and Sarah's mother lives with them. The youngest boy is still in the army, in Hesder. Both work in the agricultural business, which produces Gush Katif vegetables.

Position:
We are religious Zionists, both of us came here from comfortable life in the city to build Israel and work on the land. We have given the best part of our lives to creating Jewish settlement in Gush Katif and are active socially in all areas of life here. We love our land and our home, this is our life, the community's life, and Israel's. Successive governments have supported and promoted settlement in Gush Katif, there is no reason to change this policy now.

We oppose and will oppose disengagement and giving up any part of Eretz Yisrael. Our children are involved in opposition to Disengagement, two are married and live here, one is in Hesder, and one lives in a settlement in Samaria. They built their lives in Gush Katif, like us: we are not materialistic and it is not a matter of compensation or alternatives, we want to stay here and will oppose Disengagement with any legal means at our disposal.

We are shocked at the way in which the community here is being delegitimised in the media. Ariel Sharon has gone back on his own principles. If you ask the majority of Israelis today, a lot of people feel that the government has not taken this decision in a democratic manner and most wanted a referendum.

Gush Katif is also strategically important to the State of Israel, precisely because it is inside the Gaza Strip and on the coastline. The Palestinians and the PA aren't going to become law-abiding and peaceful overnight with a unilateral Disengagement. If we leave, the Negev and Ashkelon become Israel's frontline border areas; defense experts and most people in the country believe that the security situation will deteriorate.

A3. Judy and Rafi & family

The family came from a religious kibbutz to Gush Katif 12 years ago when they were newly married. Judy was actually born in America, she is a physiotherapist; Rafi is an engineer, he has an air-conditioning and plumbing business. They have 4 children at home between the ages of 3-11.

Position:
We came here 12 years ago when kibbutz life was changing, but we wanted to write our own story as religious Zionists. Kibbutz life was not for us, but we questioned many of its compromises. Here, we are party of a society with beliefs and ideals that really sticks by them and sticks together.

We live a Torah life and the Torah and our Rabbis say that it is forbidden to give up any part of Eretz Yisrael. We oppose and will oppose disengagement and giving up any part of Eretz Yisrael, it is not a matter of money, it is simply forbidden. We will defend our homes, lives and beliefs, that is our right, we are not leaving.

Having settlements in Gush Katif is important to Israel's security, too. The IDF's presence here is vital to it in the future: the Palestinians won't control their own terrorists or the violence and the IDF can't stay here if there are no settlements.

Ariel Sharon has reneged on his own principles and turned against those of his party and successive Israeli governments. The government has not passed these laws in a democratic manner, there needs to be a referendum. We have tried to make our point peacefully, but now we and our point of view are being delegitimised, we are being denied the democratic right to free speech and protest. We will do whatever we have to do to stop disengagement, if we manage to bring about elections, we can stop it.

A4. Yossi, Shmulik, and others

Religious IDF officers serving in Gush Katif, who are from Judea and Samaria.

We grew up in different places, but we have been serving in Gush Katif, where we know a lot of people and have made friends, although relations are tense now with the families that are anti-disengagement, and they no longer invite us to their homes.

We accept disengagement and will follow orders, the government has a right to pass laws. It's going to be difficult to defend everyone under the circumstances, but disorder will only make it more perilous.

Additional Documents:
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/6a.html
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/6b.html
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/9e.html

A5. Yehonatan Basi and Sela [The Disengagement Authority]

Disengagement is a government policy that has been legislated democratically in the Knesset, together with the necessary timetable and upcoming compensation laws, which should be implemented on schedule and as humanely as possible. It is a painful process for those involved but it also represents a landmark in Israel's history and that of the Zionist movement, whether traditional or religious

To help the Disengagement Plan's implementation in a positive atmosphere, the Israeli government aims to provide realistic compensation, as well as feasible options for communities or individual families to set down roots in new homes and communities around Israel. This is the human side of the operation, showing our understanding towards those who have to relocate, and we are also providing psycho-social support for them - before and after Disengagement.

We will do everything in our power to assist families to make this decision and offer the support that they need to relocate. We will also coordinate with the Police, so that it can proceed smoothly and peacefully.

B1. Religious IDF soldiers

This group will assume the roles of Religious IDF officers serving in Gush Katif. The officers are from Judea and Samaria - they grew up in different places, but have been serving in Gush Katif where they know a lot of people and have made friends, although relations are tense now with the families that are anti-Disengagement and they are no longer invited into their homes.

In general, they accept Disengagement and will follow orders - the government has a right to pass laws. It's going to be difficult to defend everyone under the dangerous circumstances, but disorder will only make it more perilous.

At one point, they meet a secular right wing officer who tries to convince them to refuse orders. At this stage, a 5 minute discussion will take place, focusing on the following points:

1. Whether Disengagement will bring true peace and the problems of controlling terror after Disengagement.
2. How best to carry out orders for Disengagement.

Additional Documents:

http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/6a.html
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/6b.html
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/9e.html

B2. The Family Dilemma

At this station the participants will engage in an introspective, thought provoking assignment [5 minutes].
Each receives a sheet of A4 paper and will be requested to answer the following questions individually:
1. Where will you be in 5 years time?
2. What is the name of your partner? (Husband/ wife etc)
3. Where will you get married?
4. How many children will you have?
5. What would their names be?
6. What does your family do for recreation/fun?
7. What will you be doing? Career?
8. Who are your neighbours?
9. When you look out your window what do you see?
10. Where will you live? Draw your house/apartment.
11. How will you decorate your house?
12. What car will you drive?
13. Will you have a garden?

Imagine yourself sitting in the garden chatting happily with your neighbours. Close your eyes and take a moment to think about this image. Now imagine that in 2 months time all these things will be taken away from you.

B3. Religious Zionism

At this station the participants will meet a right-wing "Rabbi" who is against Disengagement, but also against violence.
[They will read articles:
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/9b.html
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/6d.html
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/divides.html ]

The participants will ask questions and focus on the following points [5 minutes]:
1. Eretz Yisrael - the “Promised Land”, the Mitzvah of Yishuv ha'aretz - settling the land, the idea that the beginning of Redemption is settling the land
2. Why Religious Zionism has, in general, come out strongly against Disengagement.
3. Where will you be "tomorrow" and what will you do?
4. What is your dream for the future?

B4. The Community

At this station the participants will meet the "Mazkir" (Secretary) of a community/ settlement in the Gaza Strip.
They will imagine that they are at a General Meeting (Assefah) of the Yishuv. The participants will receive background information http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/2.html . The Mazkir will explain to them that the Disengagement plan will be implemented on the 16th of August. Their task will be to address the following agenda (to be handed out to the participants) [5 minutes]:

Agenda:
1. What is our individual response to the Disengagement plan?
2. What is the community's policy and response, as a group (to Disengagement, to the IDF, to action plans)?
3. Are we prepared to negotiate with “Sela” (The governmental organization that serves to assist the settlers)?
4. What is our policy on compensation and what will happen to our property?
5. What is our policy on women and children at the time of evacuation?
6. What is our media policy?

B5. The Left Wing Lobby

At this station the participants meet a left wing lobbyist who opposes Disengagement.
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/5.html
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/4.html

The following points will be the main focus of the discussion [5 minutes]:
1. The unilateral nature of the plan, outside the Peace Process
2. The absence of negotiation with the Palestinians
3. The absence of a long-term plan for peace
4. Where will Israel be in a year's time? In 5 years' time?