It is already the "day after" the Disengagement, much sooner
than anyone had expected. The media will pack up and look for
the next drama that will capture the attention of the world
audience. Orange strips of cloth will continue to decorate
children's bikes. Everyone else will carry on with their
lives.
However close to 2,000 families comprising some 8,000 souls
will not be able to continue doing what they have been doing.
For better or for worse, their lives have changed. There is
no going back for them.
These are all people who lived where they did with the full
backing of the government of Israel. They went to fulfill a
national mission that had the backing of governments from all
ends of the political spectrum, Left to Right.
Now that the government has decided that it no longer wants
them there, it must care for them and provide for their
future.
It should be noted that whether a family cooperated and moved
out in advance does not affect the obligation that the State
has towards them. If the government of Israel has now decided
that it does not want them where it sent them, it is fully
obligated to provide for their future.
So far, the record has not been good. Very little was done
until about three months ago when the prime minister realized
that no action had been taken and he got things going. The
400 or so "caravillas" (prefabricated, single-family homes)
that were hastily thrown up are a reasonable temporary
solution if immediate steps are taken to building permanent
housing. In the meantime, the families will be forced to make
do in homes that are a fraction of the size of what they gave
up, and probably a fraction of the quality as well. Even
their furniture and belongings will not fit into the new
housing, and must be stored until permanent housing can be
built.
The rest, from two-thirds to three-quarters of the total,
remain with even less. No one is sleeping on the street, but
there was inadequate planning for them. Families were taken
to hotels that were already full. Others found themselves in
hotels that were not adequately prepared to deal with the
challenges of housing a family. At best, a hotel is not a
very good environment in which to raise a family.
Voluntary chesed organizations did a wonderful job, following
the dislocated families and providing food and basic
necessities for the adjustment. They even brought counselors
to help ease the trauma.
A strong indication of the lack of preparation is the fact
that the Sela administration, which is run by a religious
man, did not even provide for basic religious needs in the
newly built areas such as shuls and mikvo'os. Since
most of those evacuated are religious, one would have
expected more consideration. Rabbi Gafni of Degel Hatorah was
the first to note this lack when he toured the areas as part
of his Knesset duties.
Some of the families will no doubt have an easier time
building new lives for themselves than others. But all of
them deserve institutional support of the government of
Israel as long as they want it.
For Mr. Sharon, and for almost everyone else from their
various perspectives, the Disengagement from Gaza is a way-
station to someplace else or even just a minor episode that
will soon fade. But for the uprooted families the next few
years will be trying at best. The government should make sure
that it discharges its obligation, and may Hashem refill
their loss.
