A Tour of Gush Katif

Gush Katif Settlements

This page is a work in progress. I've visited Gusk Katif twice recently, and intend to go back many more times. Each time, I hope to visit a new place, meet new people, and photograph as much as possible. For now, I offer slim pickings in terms of pictures - but more will come soon. In the meantime, consider viewing these two special sites:

• An interactive tour from Israel National News.
• A photo album collection from GushKatif.Net.

Before looking below, here's a brief glimpse of what was, and what is - in places where the Israelis have not made the sand bloom.

Here are just some of amazing accomplishments that have been made on land that was once only sand, land the Arabs have called cursed because nothing would grow on it. Indeed, before I first visited Gush Katif I wondered myself how it was possible to grow anything in sand. There's a technical answer having to do with fertilizers, computerized watering systems, greenhouses that shield the tender plants from the harsh sun and more. But beyond the technical answer is a deeper one - a love of the land, a will to grow, a need to build.  

Netzer Hazani

Netzer Hazani is one of the oldest settlements in Gaza. Founded with the encouragement of the Ministry of Agriculture, the first residents were amazed to see the mayor of Khan Yunis coming to visit them when the first arrived. The mayor welcomed the residents with the traditional greeting of bread and salt and told them that he was happy they had come. He called the land "cursed" and said that nothing had grown on this land from the time of Abraham, forefather of the Jews and the Arabs. He believed that with the return of the Jews, the land would once again yield food and with it, employment for his people. It is incredible how right he was.

Netzer Hazani was the first civilian village established in the Katif region. It was established in the early 1970s, and was named after the late Michael Hazani z"l, Minister of Social Welfare and Agriculture. Approximately 70 families live in Netzer Hazani, most earning a living from the greenhouse industry they have developed. They grow flowers, vegetables and herbs for local and international consumption.

At the entrance to Netzer Hazani stands a memorial to Tali Hatuel and her girls. Tali and little Hila, Hadar, Roni and baby Merav were murdered on May 2, 2004 by Palestinian terrorists. The brutality of their murder should shock the world. Their memorial service, which was interrupted by gunfire as the mourners themselves were attacked (A Shameful Picture), was especially difficult to watch. In their memory, the people of Gush Katif built a resting place for the soldiers who protect them. Click here to see pictures of their memorial.

Neve Dekalim

Unlike most of the settlements in Gush Katif, Neve Dekalim is not agriculture-based. The town features an amazing zoo (read about it at A Child's Zoo in a Cursed Land), a shopping center, community center, wonderful parks, lush lawns, and beautiful homes.

Neve Dekalim was founded in 1983 and is home to over 500 families. The village boasts a large range of educational institutions including day care centers, kindergartens, the regional elementary school, an Ulpena (religious dormitory high school for girls), Hesder Yeshiva (military arrangement rabbinic academy), a Yeshiva for advanced studies, a women's college, a Community Center, a Research Center for the study of the Sinai region, a Youth Center and a Golden Agers Club. There are 8 Synagogues and the regional library. 2 medical clinics, a commercial center boasting many and varied shops.

One of the most amazing places in Neve Dekalim is the children's zoo. It is an oasis of grass and life and peace for the animals, for the children of Neve Dekalim, and for all visitors lucky enough to attend. Click here to see pictures of a zoo that shows what happens when love is as much a part of the endeavor as faith and planning.

Atzmona

Atzmona is further to the south of Neve Dekalim. Though it is smaller in size, it is also quite lovely. The homes are gracious, the lawns maintained well. Atzmona has many greenhouses. We visited an incredible plant nursery. The quality of the plants, the careful way they were organized and cared for, was easy to see. We left with a trunk full of plants for incredible prices.