1 2 3 158 Chapter Eleven | Tourism and Industry Erez Industrial Zone In the northern Gaza Strip, near the Erez border crossing, a large industrial zone was established in the late 1970s, featuring around 120 Israeli factories and 120 Pales�nian factories, employing about 5,000 Pales�nians, residents of the Gaza Strip, and around 1,000 Jews, most of them from the north of the Gaza Strip, working side-by-side. They maintained good rela�onship. Although the industrial zone was within the jurisdic�on of the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, most of the workers and also some of the factory owners were residents of the Gaza Coast Regional Council. "Here too, like in the industrial zones of Gush Ka�f, the idea was sharing and making a living because food brings peace, and hunger brings aggression," said Yossi Dayan of Nisanit, chairman of the Erez Manufacturers Associa�on and a member of the Gush Ka�f Se�lers Commi�ee. "The factories in Erez were diverse, and the place was teaming with life and growing year by year. The disengagement plan killed the factories, and most were shut down. For two years, the place stood desolate, and the buildings remained empty and abandoned. The industrialists gave the keys to State officials upon the evacua�on. There was a plan to sell the area to industrialists from Europe so that they would employ the residents of Gaza, but two years a�er the disengagement, it was suspected that there were tunnels there, and within one day, the State destroyed the en�re area. The place was used as a base for the launching of Qassam rockets towards Ashkelon."15 Businesses A sizeable commercial center was established in Neve Dekalimm, providing dozens of families thanks to its various shops, which sold food, books, apparel, ritual ar�cles, toys and more. It also housed many businesses and offices. Given its proximity to ameni�es, such as the HMO, bank, council offices and library, its business volume grew exponen�ally, which was economically evident. Other small businesses, like grocery stores, fish shop, nurseries, agricultural equipment, apparel and household goods, mushroomed in the different se�lements. The fact that Gush Ka�f was remote and isolated from the center of Israel and Jewish se�lements generated a significant business poten�al rela�ve to the region's size, which meant that most residents shopped within the area, thus contribu�ng to the development and prosperity of local businesses. 1 Neve Dekalim Commercial Center 2 Neve Dekalim Industrial Zone 3 Bank Mizrahi in Neve Dekalim Commercial Center
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