3 5 4 1 2 42 43 Chapter Five | The Se�lements Yitzhak Rabin's new administra�on- started construc�on of the permanent buildings. Simultaneously, the Se�lement Department decided to plan the branches of the economy. Ka�f stronghold started prepara�ons to become a permanent se�lement.5 In the winter of 5736 (beginning of 1976), a new se�lement nucleus for Gush Ka�f began to form. Like all his predecessors, it sprouted in Kfar Darom. It was a group of young people in their twen�es who organized to establish a new se�lement in the Land of Israel.6 In 5737 (beginning of 1977), in prepara�on for the civilianiza�on of the 'Ka�f' stronghold and the move of its se�lers from Kfar Darom, Eliezer Avtabi, an MK from the Mafdal approached Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and asked him to name the new moshav a�er the late Michael Hazani. Rabin immediately agreed. This is how the name 'Netzer Hazani' came to be.7 A�er one year and three months in Kfar Darom, on 22nd of Shevat 5737 (02/10/1977), a nucleus of the first 12 families moved to the permanent point in the se�lement. Along with two thousand guests, the civilianiza�on ceremony held that same day was also a�ended by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, senior officers, and people from all over Israel who fought in the area and came to rejoice with the new se�lers. Rabin said at the event: "This is a great day for the State of Israel and the se�lement, a day that symbolizes the establishment of our grip of this region, which since the Six Day War has become an inseparable part of the country, and its security. Shou�ng in the evening - and drinking coffee together the next day Anita Tucker: In the beginning, there were many hardships in the moshav that stemmed from differences in mentality and diverse a�tudes. A�er a heated mee�ng and high-toned shou�ng, we would drink coffee together the next day as if nothing had happened. It helped us endure, despite our differences. " A�er the ceremony, Rabin set the first mezuzah at the entrance to one of the houses, together with the son of the late minister, Michael Hazani.8 Nine years later, when Rabin served as Minister of Defense in the Shimon Peres administra�on, he visited Gush Ka�f and told the se�lers: "Just like nine years ago, when I was here at the inaugura�on of the first se�lement, Netzer Hazani, as Prime Minister, so today I believe that this area has a future in terms of the se�lement, economy, society and security - and it must be an inseparable part of the State of Israel."9 In 2005, on the eve of the evacua�on, 80 families lived in the se�lement. The evacua�on of the se�lers began at noon, on Thursday, the 13th of Av 5765 (08/18/2005) and ended in the evening, during which more than 600 residents were evacuated. When the IDF forces and the Israel Police entered the se�lement, residents set fire to the entrance gate. A�er a short �me, they managed to control the fire and began evacua�ng the residents.. Towards the end of the evacua�on, the residents of Netzer Hazani held a farewell ceremony near the home of the late Rabbi Arama, murdered on Gush Ka�f road a few years earlier, and then le� the se�lement in an orderly manner.10 1 The amusement park in Netzer Hazani 2 Greenhouses in Netzer Hazani 3 A view of Netzer Hazani in its early years 4 The interior of the synagogue in Netzer Hazani 5 The entrance plaza to the synagogue in Netzer Hazani As soon as we got out of the car we already made up our mind Briana Hilberg: I heard about the place from a friend who told me that her sister lives in a terrible place where there is only sand and Arabs. We took the children, got in the car, and drove to see what this 'Netzer Hazani' was all about. It was a long trip. We passed through Gaza and saw the poor agriculture of the Arab popula�on. Then, we arrived at Gush Ka�f. As soon as we got out of the car, we made up our mind: This is the place for us.
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