Have I Been Mistaken for a Head of Insect-free Lettuce?

Have I Been Mistaken for a Head of Insect-free Lettuce?
By Sara L. Shomron

Nowadays, 5 years after the Israeli government’s forceful removal of its citizens from their homes in Gush Katif and the destruction of their communities, we seldom read/hear of it referred to as an expulsion but as an "uprooting."

Why has a recent historical event documented by the mass media in all its ugliness, pain, and tears been sanitized and rewritten? I think the word uprooting serves to numb its distraught and tired population and their supporters. It suggests a state of denial of what happened in the summer of 2005. It confuses, bewilders, and reduces the expulsion to a botanical misfortune - and I am aghast.

I don’t consider the word choice to be a matter of semantics or euphemisms. It reflects a world outlook. The use of uprooting seems to desensitize the mind, soften the reprehensible event, and merely serve to pave the way for future expulsions in disputed parts of the Land of Israel. It exonerates the Israeli government of its crime against the Gush Katif residents in particular, and the Jewish nation in general.

The motivation for the change may be that the use of uprooting is considered poetic or without the political baggage rather than the tell-it-like-it-was expulsion. Yet replacing the word and concept of expulsion with uprooting into our collective lexicon misrepresents what happened the summer of 2005. Plants are uprooted and replanted, if not, they die. And plants, when uprooted, if they are to survive, are immediately replanted in soil, watered, and treated with tender loving care. Such was not the case with the Gush Katif population. For example, some communities were repeatedly moved by the government; some went to live in tents while many went to hotels for an indefinite period of time; some went directly to caravillas - all temporary and untenable living conditions. The Israeli government’s motto for the expulsion, “Determination and sensitivity,” was not seen. No, the Gush Katif residents were not uprooted.

In five years from now, will the term uprooting be downgraded to moved?

GUSH KATIF BOOK FEAST

GUSH KATIF BOOK FEAST
By Sara L. Shomron

In keeping pace with the 5th Gush Katif memorial, here is a selection of books on Gush Katif written in, or translated to English, all authored by former residents of Gush Katif:

1. Prayer for the Poor by Rabbi Elnekaveh,
the former area rabbi of Gush Katif.
Book Description:
Talks in a general way about life under the backdrop of Disengagement.
Shiloh BarChetz, © 2007.
Available from Moriah book store in Jerusalem

2. 222 Days of K’far Darom by Dr. Aryeh Yitzhaki,
military historian.
Book Description from the Jewish Press book review reads in part:
“The book portrays an unparalleled heroic episode. For eight and a half months in 1948, several dozen young men and women faced the local Arab enemy and the invading Egyptian army. The defenders were under almost complete siege, suffering from terrible hunger and thirst. Most of them were religious kibbutzniks, reinforced by Palmah fighters…"
Eretz Israel Publishers, © 2007.
Now available in English.

3. Eviction by Rachel Saperstein, Founder and Director of Operation Dignity.
Book Description from Amazon.com:
“Rachel Saperstein moved to the beautiful area of Gush Katif in Gaza to raise a family and enjoy an uncluttered life. Trouble is, she and her kind" pose an inconvience to Arab power brokers. You see, Jews and Christians are not suppose to live in Arab/Muslim lands even though Muslims may live in Christian or Jewish lands. This book sheds light on this nasty situation.”
Pavilion Press, © 2005.
Available from Amazon.com


4. Grains of Sand The Fall Of Neve Dekalim
by Shifra Shomron (Literature Study Guide available for free downloading).
A teenager raised in Neve Dekalim wrote, in English, the first published historical fiction novel leading up to the controversial Israeli unilateral withdrawal from the Jewish communities in Gush Katif, Gaza Strip.
Book Description from the author’s website in part:
“Set in Neve Dekalim, Gush Katif, Israel, "Grains Of Sand: The Fall Of Neve Dekalim" is told through the vantage point of teenager Efrat Yefet, a high school student living under the dual threat of Arab attacks and the Israeli government's 2005 Disengagement plan to destroy her town and adjacent communities. She, along with family, friends, and neighbors, try to lead ordinary lives as the ever-encroaching conflict gets closer, and the whole community joins efforts to save their beautiful towns from destruction…”
Mazo Publishers, © 2007.
Available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, select Jerusalem book stores, Gush Katif Museum, and Mazo Publishers


5. Katif Nine Days in Av Portrait of a Struggle
by Miri Tzachi, journalist photographer.
Book Description from Amazon.com reads in part: “Beautiful Coffee-table Size Photo Album Depicting the Saga of Gush Katif…Text in 4 languages: English, Hebrew, French & Russian…”
L'Chaim Publications, © 2006.
Available from Amazon.com


6. The Expulsion From Gush Katif, educational resource.
Book Description:
A compilation of articles from Gush Katif residents and journalists leading up to the expulsion.
“…For those who never lived in Jewish Gaza, The Expulsion of Gush Katif provides a clear picture of the suffering of its residents and what they went through when their homes were destroyed. It is also a moving record of faith and strength, and hope for the future."
Southern Hills Press, © 2008. Edited by Naomi Grossman.
Available from amazon.com

Face2Facebook

Face2Facebook
by Sara Layah Shomron

It has been 5 years since the uprooting, expulsion and destruction of Gush Katif.

There seems to be a glitch on the radar screen of major mass media news coverage concerning the former Gush Katif residents' plight and current situation. In order to remedy this I have finally discovered Facebook and am finding it an amazing vehicle to connect with people worldwide.

The "Gush Katif - historical fiction novel” Facebook page is now up and running with the aim to increase public awareness by providing a more personal look at former Gush Katif residents via select youtube videos and pertinent news articles. This Facebook page will also provide a forum to engage in relevant discussion, announce Gush Katif events, and encourage organizing Gush Katif Od Chai awareness events.

What was it like living in Gush Katif before the summer of 2005 is featured on this Facebook page via youtube videos of the historically accurate, fictional novel “Grains Of Sand The Fall Of Neve Dekalim” by Shifra Shomron (Mazo Publishers).

What has life been like since the summer of 2005 for Gush Katifers is seen on this Facebook page through select news articles and youtube videos. These videos allow people to go behind the major media news coverage and get a more intimate look and better understanding of the issues still being grappled with 5 years later. I encourage you to leave a comment on the Facebook page after watching a video.

Let your voice be heard on the page's Discussion section. Let’s engage! The first Discussion topic: your thoughts about 5 years later.

Please join and share this new Facebook page with interested others.