Notes from the Disaster
Notes from the Disaster
From the Balagan blog:
This is one of many blogs and other sources for personal accounts of what is going on in the Gaza settlements as the exile from Gaza goes on. I was struck and have highlighted some of her remarks, which are the most important and seem to be a theme repeated over and over, in writing and in pictures.
I had written in a reply to one of Ted Belman's articles that one of the things, in this tragic time, that gave me some modicum of hope was seeing the settlers and soldiers crying together, holding on to each other, hugging, weeping. The only good that might come out of this (and maybe there is more, as we continue to debate the political/strategic wisdom of this exile, but that is for other articles) is that there might be a certain unity in Israel. Certainly not everyone will kiss and hug, the Right and Left will only agree to disagree, but it's important to note what Rinat, the author of this blog writes: It is important to understand the human cost, which of course, politicians in almost any country will ignore. These are human beings who suffer for the games and 'realpolitik' of the leadership. But one can read about what is going on and possibly find some hope for Israel in these words:
I guess that by now we can already say that most families have been evacuated fromm the biggest settlement in Gaza. The tension we felt yesterday, when settlers and policemen really confronted in the streets disappeared. Today people's feelings just came out. No violence, but some shouting and many many tears. I admit I myself cried. I guess it's the result of four days under 40C, almost no sleep, no food and lots of pressure. Tons of pressure. Went to the south of the settlement, where hundreds sat down in the street and started singing and praying. For a moment, I just lost control. I am a human being, sorry. When I heard the so typical zionist songs like "Eli, Eli" from Rachel, my eyes flooded. Sat down, drank water, calmed down. Everything under control. Passed. Not that eassy to administrate our emotions here. Carried on my job. Talked to people. The hostile attitude's been broken and the sadness have found its place in the settlers' hearts. People struggled when the policemen came to put them into the buses. Resistance. But a desperate one, not violent. The most amazing thing was the policemen and soldiers solidarity. They sat inside the settlers under the boiling sun held their hands, sang with them. People've been trying desperately to remember that altough they don't agree in what concerns disengagement and politics, they are still one people. The Jewish people that can't be torn.
Posted by Maurice Sonnenwirth at August 17, 2005 11:14 AM
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Notes from the Disaster
From the Balagan blog:
This is one of many blogs and other sources for personal accounts of what is going on in the Gaza settlements as the exile from Gaza goes on. I was struck and have highlighted some of her remarks, which are the most important and seem to be a theme repeated over and over, in writing and in pictures.
I had written in a reply to one of Ted Belman's articles that one of the things, in this tragic time, that gave me some modicum of hope was seeing the settlers and soldiers crying together, holding on to each other, hugging, weeping. The only good that might come out of this (and maybe there is more, as we continue to debate the political/strategic wisdom of this exile, but that is for other articles) is that there might be a certain unity in Israel. Certainly not everyone will kiss and hug, the Right and Left will only agree to disagree, but it's important to note what Rinat, the author of this blog writes: It is important to understand the human cost, which of course, politicians in almost any country will ignore. These are human beings who suffer for the games and 'realpolitik' of the leadership. But one can read about what is going on and possibly find some hope for Israel in these words:
Posted by Maurice Sonnenwirth at August 17, 2005 11:14 AM