3 6 5 4 1 2 28 29 Chapter Five | The Se�lements Kfar Darom A religious communal se�lement in the center of the Gaza Strip, on the outskirts of Deir al-Balah, which belonged to the 'Amana' Se�lement Movement A cabinet mee�ng held on 09/13/1970, decided to "expedite the establishment of two outposts in the Gaza Strip - Kfar Darom and Abu Midian."1 The Palmach, led by Moshe Netzer, ini�ated the renewal of the se�lement in Kfar Darom. Netzer, a Palmach veteran and a Negev fighter in the War of Independence, served as the head of the Youth and Nahal Division in the Ministry of Defense between 1968 and 1971. And so his story goes: I came up with this idea personally, for sen�mental reasons, as a former commander of the Palmach ba�alion who evacuated Kfar Darom during the War of Independence. The idea started to simmer when it became clear that the Se�lement Department thought there was a chance to construct a se�lement on a 32-hectare plot, and the Minister of Agriculture was drawn by the possibility of obtaining addi�onal plots of land beyond the green line. Another serious issue was the sen�ment toward an abandoned Jewish se�lement.2 The groundbreaking ceremony was held on the 11th of Tishrei 5731 (10/11/1970). It was a symbolic date: The 11th of Tishrei 5707 (1946) was the day when Kfar Darom was ini�ated as part of the 11 points in the Negev opera�on. Moshe Netzer came up with the idea to start-over as a Nahal se�lement, on that precise date.3 A small table was placed on the dusted soil. The Nahal commander, Col. Zvi Levanon, the Head of the Youth & Nahal Division, Jewish Agency representa�ves, and Ministry of Housing representa�ve, spoke one a�er the other. The former Mukhtar of Kfar Darom, from back in 5708 (1948), Avraham Diment, who was the commander of the Kfar Darom area during the War of Independence (1948) and later a member of the Moshav Bnei Darom, excitedly declared the "Widow's blessing. ("Blessed be He who sets the boundary of the widow" - Berachot 58b, S.A. 224:10)4 In contrast to this humble ceremony, a�ended by few and with no publicity, crowds a�ended the official ceremony held about a month and a half later, on the 2nd day of Kislev 5731 (11/30/1970). The guests - including veterans of Kfar Darom - went around like grooms on their wedding day, among the tents of the Nahal youth. Masses came to rejoice with the members of the three nuclei of the religious movements: Segev - designated for Mevo Horon, 'Se�lers' designated for Sha'alabim, and a nucleus of 'For Fulfillment' designated for Kibbutz Sa'ad. The blowing of the trumpet marked the beginning of the official ceremony, upon the arrival of Southern Command's GOC, Ariel Sharon. Sharon reviewed the Nahal youth's forma�on, and the Nahal commander solemnly read the order of the day. Netzer did not hide his excitement in his speech: A double meaning for the Nahal in Kfar Darom. An outpost and a novelty se�lement as one. Stubbornness and faith prevailed." Like him, Diment excitedly called out: The heart is full and overflowing. On behalf of the fighters of yonder days, and with the blessing of Bnei Darom members, I wish to congratulate the young people. We feel that they are our sons." The eyes of the old Kibbutz members teared up. The stronghold commander, Lt. Yoram, told his guests that the site already features showers, a dining room and a club, and they have already started building prefabricated houses. "At the end of next week we will probably start cul�va�ng our fields. We have sca�ered plots across 26 hectares. We will probably also cul�vate the agricultural farm abandoned by the Egyp�ans. We might even have chicken coops there."5 For five years, the place was used as a Nahal stronghold. On the 12th of Kislev 5736 (12/16/1975) the Nahal le� the place, handing over the responsibility for it to the Jewish Agency. The encampment was inhabited by several families who were designated to establish Netzer Hazani.6 Kfar Darom became a 'temporary transit camp for se�lement nuclei' - which was its official �tle and for a long �me also its prac�cal func�on. In 5743 (1983), a seminary and a tour center were established there. 'Midreshet HaDrom' engaged in Judaism and the Land of Israel.7 The members of the Gaza Coast Regional Council put pressure on the government to turn the place into a permanent se�lement. In the summer of 5749 (1989), several families from Neve Dekalim and from Atzmona came to 'hold the fort' un�l a permanent nucleus was found to se�le the place. They were joined by two other families intended to build their home there.8 At the end of 5749 (1989), according to a government's decision, a dozen families and several single individuals moved to Kfar Darom, and renewed it as an agricultural-communal se�lement. A month later, on the Sukkot holiday of 5749 (October 1989), the official ceremony of the se�lement's renewal was held, and it was populated by the 'Zofia' nucleus, consis�ng of a nucleus of Kfar Maimon members and graduates of High/'Hesder' Yeshivas who joined them. It was explicitly established as part of the objec�ve to build a se�lement in the Land of Israel.9 Kfar Darom lost many vic�ms in the war against terror. On the 25th of Tevet 5752, (01/01/1992), Doron Shorshan, a farmer from the se�lement, was murdered when he made his way from the greenhouses of Kfar Darom to his home, at the end of his day's work. An armed terrorist ambushed him at the Deir al-Balah intersec�on, shot and killed him. The se�lers of the Gaza Strip deeply mourned his death. Rabbi Shimon Biran walked between the people, encouraged and strengthened them all to con�nue their building momentum and keep the faith. Indeed, a�er Doron's murder, all Kfar Darom members decided to bolster their hold of the place and purchase the permanent apartments built by hard-working Jews. 1 Aerial photograph of Kfar Darom 2 The entrance sign to Kfar Darom 3 Inaugura�on of the new synagogue 4 The tree in commemora�on of Doron Shorshan - May God Avenge His Death 5 The entrance sign to the school in Kfar Darom 6 Residen�al homes in Kfar Darom People did not want to leave. They felt a sense of belonging even through the ordeals Asher Mivtzari: An internal inquiry was conducted in Kfar Darom. People were at peace with what they were doing, understanding that all these dangers were mere not adventures; they realized they were standing at the forefront of the en�re Land of Israel. We knew that if we folded, it would reach the Negev and Sderot and weaken the resilience of the en�re country. We did not rely on miracles. We conveyed the need to fight terrorism, but have witnessed the fact that providence was involved because people were rela�vely unharmed. It is important to remember that Kfar Darom residents enjoyed a high quality of life: Connec�ons between people, Torah lessons and solidarity, unity and brotherhood. People did not want to leave. They felt a sense of belonging even through the ordeals.
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