1 2 3 5 4 126 127 Chapter Eight | Security Some individuals assisted the residents in figh�ng these complex sen�ments: the army - by providing military escort for vehicles on the Kissufim route; the regional council - by providing armored buses to cater to the needs of the residents and the en�re educa�on system. Indeed, during family celebra�ons held in the Gush, much effort was invested in security to give everyone, especially visitors from the outside, a good feeling of security and that it was worth coming. In a few cases, the happy couple had to celebrate outside Gush Ka�f due to family pressure. It significantly damaged their joy because it was difficult, for example, to celebrate a Bar Mitzvah in a foreign synagogue without one's friends and community, but this was also the price the residents paid to con�nue living in Gush Ka�f. Farmers and business owners in Gush Ka�f also suffered much damage due to the complicated security situa�on. Roads were blocked, produce could not be delivered on �me, and workers were not allowed to enter, which damaged the produce that was not handled or harvested in �me and was unsuitable for export. It caused severe economic damage to the growers, both in the immediate term—through decreased income—and in the long term—through the cancella�on of contracts with suppliers, given the uncertainty in the current supply. Farmers had to tackle these issues in diverse and crea�ve ways (for more, see Chapter Five - Agriculture in Gush Ka�f). Private businesses were also financially affected. For example, workers did not come to Shaya Yaron's garage in Neve Dekalim, and the residents stopped coming because they were afraid of the proximity to Khan Yunis and the con�nuous shoo�ng from that direc�on.31 The factories in the industrial zone of Neve Dekalim suffered from the same problems, and many drivers refused to enter Gush Ka�f, bring raw materials or take produce to market.32 Even in these situa�ons, business owners demonstrated crea�vity, flexibility, pa�ence and faith in their a�empts to persevere. However, the economic losses accumulated over the years, and some businesses were closed or were on the verge of closing. Tourism in Gush Ka�f also suffered a blow. The hotel was closed, and the Midrashot operated outside Gush Ka�f in schools na�onwide. The B&Bs that operated in private homes were also shut down, and with them, all the related ac�vi�es came to a halt- restaurants, beaches, the swimming pool and more. The educa�on system also suffered from the complex and unstable security situa�on. It was prepared ahead of �me for various scenarios, used armored transporta�on, and tried to assemble a team of local residents. Each educa�onal ins�tu�on had a sheltered space into which the students and staff were brought during difficult hours, but the main effort was to preserve rou�ne, and add security and faith into the mix. Two new schools were opened due to the security situa�on - in Netzarim and Kfar Darom - to avoid the daily risk involved in transpor�ng students. The good connec�ons within the teams and with the Council's Educa�on and Security Departments helped create a steady emergency rou�ne. Of course, there were ups and downs according to the ensuing events. The days were more difficult during massive a�acks when teachers had to tell their students who were injured or hurt, some�mes family members... An en�re psychological array enveloped the educa�on system and helped it deal with these difficul�es vis-a-vis the students and staff. Daily life went on like anywhere else, with some tweaks and changes. Each se�lement had an internal communica�on system through which the security news and behavioral instruc�ons were transmi�ed. Each se�lement had its own sheltered space - a bomb shelter, a kindergarten, a club - where the residents went in �mes of emergency. With the increase in terrorist a�acks, the changes manifested in the strictness of the guard protocols, the inspec�on of workers and people entering the se�lement, children playing closer to home, and especially in the greater vigilance of those responsible for security. The people who suffered the most were the residents of Netzarim. For years, they were forced to leave their private vehicle at the Nahal Oz checkpoint and board armored military vehicles. It meant they never had a car near their houses, and everything they done, every entry and exit were conducted in accordance with the military escort schedule. It meant that when a woman returned home a�er giving birth, with a new baby, she had to climb with it into an armored vehicle, with no privacy or comfort... It meant one had to take all shopping bags out of the private vehicle, climb the IDF armored vehicle, take them down again/out again and then carry them home.33 Despite all this, the residents never complained, and accepted everything with love, hope and faith, out of a mission for the people of Israel. The en�ty who orchestrated it all, connected between situa�ons and responses, wounded and caregivers, the army and residents - was the Gaza Coast Regional Council. Its employees in the various departments have dealt with the security tensions and their mul�ple consequences for many years. Through healthy and proper coopera�on they met the numerous difficult tasks and handled any problem that arose, such as whether to hold a large outdoor event and con�nue a cultural tradi�on or surrender to the situa�on and cancel; whether to con�nue studying during or immediately a�er a trauma�c event or stop the school day; whether to obey the orders of the army or the will of the residents. That council dealt with the largest amount of a�acks that any local authority in the country had ever faced, and it did it well, including all its departments. The great sa�sfac�on of the residents with the council is evident in their tes�monials. The fact that very few residents le� Gush Ka�f indicates this, and the fact that the residents experienced the security situa�on as part of a period that had to pass and not as a trauma�c event suggests that the en�re council handled the security situa�on and its various consequences - very well. The community center also faced hardships and dilemmas. Some ar�sts refused to come, and some agreed but at an exorbitant price. The la�er had to be furnished with a military escort, an armored vehicle, and many prayers that everything would go smoothly and there would be no last-minute cancella�ons, which has become common in recent years. And regarding sports tournaments, Gush Ka�f players always had to go outside, even for home games, because the compe�ng teams refused to come and play in Gush Ka�f. This constraint raised the costs and logis�cs of any undertaking. It was the same in other fields - in music, theater and more. 1 Ahrale Tzur, the third Head of Council, Major General Doron Almog and Major Yair Nave at a toast to Rosh Hashana 5756 2 Despite the situa�on - cultural ac�vity in Lake Ka�f 3 Spending �me at the northern Shikma beach 4 The bloody bus that was hit near Kfar Darom 5 The sports hall at the community center a�er a missile fell on it
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