We have not updated our postings for several days because our computer crashed, having been silently invaded by some unknown virus. With the help of a very knowledgable and patient technician the computer has been restored to full activity.
The dramatic scenes of the disengagement are behind us. There was no civil war between religious and secular elements of the community. Yes, there was resistance, some of it quite strong and deliberate, but in the end, law and order prevailed; the settlers were removed, some of them by force. Negotiations took place between the leadership of the settlers with the help of some of their rabbis and the commanders of the police and military, thus avoiding serious conflict, and Gush Katif became history. There already are scenes of buldozers razing homes in some of the former settlements.
I continue to hold in my thoughts how well the military and police carried out their assigned tasks, how they were able to listen, take verbal abuse, yet at some moments were able to reach out and embrace some distraught settler. Some of the same soldiers who had spent their tour of duty protecting the settlers now were given the task of evacuating them from these settlements. Quite a challenge. Why did soldiers cry in Gush Katif? Avi Shavit suggests that it was because the formative Jewish experience is one of being uprooted. The experience of going into exile. Because the whole point and purpose of the Zionist enterprise was to prevent a repetition of uprooting.
Now there are new challenges that the country faces. A survey taken by Haaretz newspaper shows that empathy for the settlers increased by some 40%. The settlers need and want to be relocated to permanent housing. Many of them are currently in hotels and tent cities. Some 100 families have set up tents on the lawn outside of the central train station in Tel Aviv to dramatize their situation. Apparently not too many people pay attention to them.
Another challenge is the whole question of Israeli politics. How long will Mr. Sharon continue in leadership both of the Likud Party and of the country? Israeli elections are scheduled for next year and they will be preceded by primaries in which Mr. Sharon's leadership will surely be challenged.
Third is the challenge of future peace negotiations. People are saying that "the ball is now in the Palestinian court". Much depends on developments in Gaza once the Palestinians take over.
It is also highly unlikely that Israel will make another unilateral move without getting something in return. But, one never knows, this the Middle East!
I am glad that we were here at this historic moment in the history of this country. This was the first step to end a 38 year long occupation of territory taken after 1967. We hope and pray for continuation of positive steps.
More to come,
Frank
The dramatic scenes of the disengagement are behind us. There was no civil war between religious and secular elements of the community. Yes, there was resistance, some of it quite strong and deliberate, but in the end, law and order prevailed; the settlers were removed, some of them by force. Negotiations took place between the leadership of the settlers with the help of some of their rabbis and the commanders of the police and military, thus avoiding serious conflict, and Gush Katif became history. There already are scenes of buldozers razing homes in some of the former settlements.
I continue to hold in my thoughts how well the military and police carried out their assigned tasks, how they were able to listen, take verbal abuse, yet at some moments were able to reach out and embrace some distraught settler. Some of the same soldiers who had spent their tour of duty protecting the settlers now were given the task of evacuating them from these settlements. Quite a challenge. Why did soldiers cry in Gush Katif? Avi Shavit suggests that it was because the formative Jewish experience is one of being uprooted. The experience of going into exile. Because the whole point and purpose of the Zionist enterprise was to prevent a repetition of uprooting.
Now there are new challenges that the country faces. A survey taken by Haaretz newspaper shows that empathy for the settlers increased by some 40%. The settlers need and want to be relocated to permanent housing. Many of them are currently in hotels and tent cities. Some 100 families have set up tents on the lawn outside of the central train station in Tel Aviv to dramatize their situation. Apparently not too many people pay attention to them.
Another challenge is the whole question of Israeli politics. How long will Mr. Sharon continue in leadership both of the Likud Party and of the country? Israeli elections are scheduled for next year and they will be preceded by primaries in which Mr. Sharon's leadership will surely be challenged.
Third is the challenge of future peace negotiations. People are saying that "the ball is now in the Palestinian court". Much depends on developments in Gaza once the Palestinians take over.
It is also highly unlikely that Israel will make another unilateral move without getting something in return. But, one never knows, this the Middle East!
I am glad that we were here at this historic moment in the history of this country. This was the first step to end a 38 year long occupation of territory taken after 1967. We hope and pray for continuation of positive steps.
More to come,
Frank
posted by Frank and Pat Fischer at 4:40 PM
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