1 2 3 4 6 5 26 Chapter Four | The 1968 Government Plan for the Renewal of the Se�lements In a brochure issued by the regional council in 1986 to mark a decade for the se�lement in the Strip, it was wri�en: In the '1993 Gaza Strip Popula�on Plan', the need for addi�onal Israeli popula�on at a rapid pace and under adequate condi�ons has been taken into considera�on. The set goal was 30,000 Jews this year, who will inhabit the region in the various sectors. What characterizes the se�lement process in the Gaza Strip is a combina�on of a first-class inhabi�ng challenge with a way of life that led to the establishment of se�lements of social poten�al and blessed economic infrastructure.30 1 Construc�on of Hendel Dekalim Commercial Center 2 Zvi Hendel with Arabs from the region 3 Anita Tucker with family members 4 First houses in Elei Sinai, Winter 1987 5 Construc�on of the Palm Beach Hotel 6 Yitzhak Rabin at Netzer Hazani Greenhouses The Arabs Mukhtars said: "You are crazy, nothing will grow here" On the first day, when we arrived at Netzer Hazani, Mukhtars of Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis (which were small and sleepy towns and later became large, bustling ci�es), came over. They carried bread and salt in their hands, and told us "Welcome." They were just glad we came, and said they might have a job now. The Deir al-Balah Mukhtar studied at Oxford and spoke fluent English, he pointed to the sand and told us: "You are crazy, you can't grow anything here." He called it a cursed land - al Jarrah in their tradi�on. The last ones who discovered something there were Abraham and Isaac, in Gerar. This is how I discovered the Jewish connec�on to the place. Anita Tucker, Netzer Hazani
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