2 1 20 21 Chapter Four | The 1968 Government Plan for the Renewal of the Se�lements The State Se�lement Plan: Annexing the Strip The decision on the loca�ons of the se�lements was not random. At the same �me, a professional team had started preparing a master plan for the Gaza Strip and Northern Sinai, according to the instruc�ons of the region's commander, Brigadier General Yitzhak Pundak. The team was guided by the Ministry of Defense's Economic Advisor, Dr. Pinchas Zusman, who submi�ed his work to the review of a special commi�ee. The commi�ee finished its work in Tishrei of 5733 (October 1972), compiling a 200-page book en�tled "The Gaza Strip and Northern Sinai - Master Plan." It was a thorough work that included long-term plans for the future of the Gaza Strip from all aspects: Planning of the Jewish se�lements, Arab ci�es and villages, a detailed reference to the refugee problem, and more. Following the se�lement policy of those days, the document was classified as 'Secret' (a classifica�on that has not been li�ed to date). The team devised the plan in the spirit of the Sharon's 'Five Finger Plan.' Although the word fingers was not men�oned in it, the inten�on to split the Arab sequence is explicitly stated. A paragraph in the preamble to the plan indicates how farsighted the planners tried to be. The range set by the program was un�l 1985, and on specific subjects, like Jewish development, its dura�on was even longer - un�l the end of the century.6 This document included the first reference to the city of Yamit, which stretched un�l the year 2000. In the chapter called "The Jewish Se�lement," it was indicated that Jewish se�lements would be established in two primary forms: One - rural se�lements and the other urban centers. The rural se�lements will con�nue the exis�ng, comprehensive chain, enveloping the strip to the north and east, and the urban se�lements will be located to confine, break the Arab sequence and become a consequen�al quan��ve and demographic factor. Two places were earmarked as befi�ng these goals: one was south of the Strip, in the Rafah region, and the other in the center of the Strip. According to the planners, two ci�es should be established in the area, with priority given to the one within the southern Gaza Strip. The city should be planned based on the following assump�ons: 1. A large city that would house about a quarter of a million people at the beginning of the next century; 2. A city that would absorb immigra�on (Aliyah), with immigrants cons�tu�ng the majority of its popula�on, and 3. The main branches of the economy will be tourism, industry, cra�s, and transporta�on (seaport, airport and land transporta�on).7 The chapter "The Physical Layout" concluded with the assump�on that "a chain of Jewish and Arab centers will be created, that will be located alternately. The Jewish centers will be surrounded by several small se�lements, serving as agricultural periphery to the urban hub." 8 The list of goals listed in the chapter "Goals, Measures and Quan�ta�ve Basic Assump�ons for the Master Plan" includes, among other things: Preven�ng the natural growth of the region's popula�on; A gradual improvement in the well-being of the region's popula�on; Connec�ng the area to the State of Israel to the point of becoming an integral part thereof; Elimina�ng the current nature of the refugee camps; Administra�vely spli�ng the strip and tying each sub-region to a different center in Israel. With regard to the Jewish se�lement, the plan s�pulated that "the purpose of this se�lement program would be the crea�on of strongholds in the region while spli�ng the concentra�ons and con�nuity of Arab se�lements." 9 The phrasing of the goal to eliminate the refugee camp was no lip service. The plan includes detailed planning clauses pertaining to the refurbishment of the refugee camps, moving their residents to new places or new neighborhoods in close proximity to the former refugee camps, developing employment sources for the refugees and more. The basic point of the plan was: The Gaza Strip will not be disengaged from Israel. Eventually, it reflected in the planning of the Arab ci�es. Regarding Khan Yunis, it was determined that "The city will have a growing affinity to Be'er Sheva and the Jewish city of 'Yamit.' Simultaneously, its a�achment to Gaza City will weaken." And in the planning of Rafah it was wri�en that "The transporta�on system will be based mainly on connec�ng with the coast, especially to the nearby city of 'Yamit', as well as to the na�onal road, which will pass to the east of the city." 10 Establishing Strongholds Meanwhile, another significant change transpired. In the winter of 5732 (beginning of 1972) Defense Minister Moshe Dayan decided to transfer the Gaza Strip from the Southern Command, headed by Arik Sharon, to the Central Command, headed by Rehavam Ze'evi (aka Gandhi) and this period eventually lasted ten years. Dayan explained his decision to Ze'evi and said he no longer trusted Sharon's demeanor towards the Arab popula�on in the S�p. Gandhi took charge of the area, which was then quiet and calm from a security viewpoint. And like Sharon, he was passionate about establishing widespread se�lement in the Gaza Strip, and immediately began opera�ng towards the establishment of Nahal strongholds with an independent economic base, which could be later transformed into civilian se�lements. 11 On Purim of 5732 (02/29/1972) 'Netzarim' - the second Nahal stronghold was established in the Gaza Strip. On the 2nd of Sivan 5732 (05/30/1972) Morag was established - the third Nahal stronghold. On the 27th of Iyar 5733 (05/29/1973) the fourth stronghold was established - 'Ka�f' (when it was 'civilianized' it was renamed: 'Netzer Hazani'). On 12th of Tevet 5736 (12/16/1975) the Kfar Darom stronghold was civilianized and became a transit base for Gush Ka�f se�lers.12 In September 1969, upon the government's decision on the se�lement of Gaza Strip, all se�lement movements fought for the right to se�le this piece of land. HaShomer Hatzair insisted on se�ling Netzarim. The Religious Kibbutz movement wished to se�le Kfar Darom. The Na�onal Youth Movement sought to se�le Morag; and Elei Sinai was established later by the 'Amana' movement. The struggle between the United kibbutz and the Na�onal kibbutz, both iden�fied with the Zionist le�-wing, over the establishment of the Netzarim stronghold, was of par�cular interest. In the month of Sivan 5736 (June 1976), when it was held by the United Kibbutz Movement (granted from the Religious Kibbutz), the Youth and Nahal Division demanded it would be handed over to the Na�onal Kibbutz Movement. The United Kibbutz Secretariat refused, and informed the Na�onal Kibbutz Secretariat that it refuses to exchange Netzarim with the Ka�f stronghold in southern Gaza Strip (later on: Netzer Hazani). Eventually, it had no choice. The Youth and Nahal Division determined that Netzarim would belong to the Na�onal Kibbutz - and so it was.13 1 The se�lement map in the first se�lement plan 2 Rafiah Yam 1986 3 Major General Rehavam Ze'evi at the ceremony of establishing the Ka�f stronghold on 05/19/1973 4 The groundbreaking ceremony at Ka�f 5 The groundbreaking ceremony at Ganei Tal 1979 6 Paving the access road to Morag 7 President Chaim Herzog visits Rafiah Yam 8 Reuven Rosenbla� par�cipates in the paving of the access road to Morag 9 'Right and le� just sand and more sand'
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