1 2 3 88 89 Chapter Six | Agriculture Chapter Six Agriculture When state ins�tu�ons planned the Jewish se�lement in the Gaza Strip a�er the Six-Day War (1967), they saw before their eyes a se�lement of security importance, engaging in agriculture. From a security perspec�ve, the main idea was to create a physical separa�on between the large Arab ci�es and prevent a succession of Arab se�lements that could endanger the State of Israel.1 Agriculture was not considered a central requirement or a prominent feature but as a natural and robust connec�ng element to the land and the place. The first se�lers did not come to establish an economic empire based on agriculture but to realize a sort of Zionism founded on the understanding that without the connec�on to the land - there is no future for Israel.2 In reality, agriculture was paramount - it filled the air and created the atmosphere, although not all se�lers prac�ced farming. The agricultural se�ng, the rapid progress, the many greenhouses in each se�lement, the insect-free vegetables that started in Gush Ka�f, and the incredible charity of the farmers - gave everyone the feeling that they were living in an agricultural area, within se�lements connected to the land through their various crops, rather than in an occupied territory. The raison d'être of Gush Ka�f was agriculture. Everyone felt it. It was omnipresent and accompanied the residents un�l the last moment. Even when they went door to door to convince the Israeli public of the righteousness of their struggle, they brought vegetables with them as tribute. It was a symbol, the essence, and the connec�on between holiness and daily life, literally. Clear-cut evidence of this was the names of the se�lements. Agricultural names for se�lements The names of Gush Ka�f se�lements expressed the central concept of the region, i.e., the connec�on to the land and its vegeta�on, amazement at the landscape and a desire to take root in crea�ve agriculture, supported by the historical con�nuity of a new link in a long chain. Kfar Yam, Rafiah Yam and Dugit manifested the connec�on to the sea. The ever-present palm trees, were added to the name of the central se�lement - Neve Dekalim. The light and dew, essen�al for growth and turning the region into a blooming oasis, were given to Ganei Tal and Gan Or. The spring flower, common in sands, gave its name to the se�lement of Nisanit. The se�lement names of Pe'at Sadeh (an unharvested corner in a field—a form of Jewish charity), Morag (a biblical threshing implement), Netzarim and Netzer Hazani (reminiscent of the widespread cul�va�on of dates in the region), and two names praising the crops: Ka�f (fruit picking) and Gadid (date picking) — all conveyed the move to agriculture. The historical connec�on was found in the names of Tel Ka�fa - an ancient mound, Atzmona - one of the sta�ons of the Israelites in the desert, and Elei Sinai - commemora�ng a former se�lement by that name in Sinai, symbolizing the desire to go back to the landscapes of the Sinai desert; and Slav (quail) and Bedolah (referring to the manna, the special food our ancestors ate during their wandering in the desert, which was as clear as crystal). Kfar Darom expressed everything together - A village in the south called by that name, dated back to the period of the Tanaim (people of rabbinic authority in the �me of the Mishnah), Kfar Darom which was established in 5707 (1947), and its third establishment in 5730 (2017) - calling from the outskirts of the south: We are s�ll here.3 First doubts The planned agriculture was highly doubted due to the area's natural condi�ons, known as 'the Western Negev Desert.' That means the region is characterized by scarce precipita�on, a desert climate and shi�ing sandy soil, all unsuitable for agricultural cul�va�on.4 The Minister of Welfare at the �me, Michael Hazani, and the chairman of the Hapoel HaMizrachi Moshavim Union at the �me, Aryeh Judenfreund, did not believe in the area's agricultural future and said with great confidence that nothing would grow there. To corroborate this, they cited archaeological surveys and findings that no signs of agriculture or se�lement were discovered on these dunes, and no permanent structures were ever built. At most, nomadic tribes used the region to set up their tents. If this was not enough, there were the Arabs who inhabited the Gaza Strip. They perceived the new se�lement as a form of madness and said to their new neighbors: "This land is cursed. No bird, grass, or insect lived in this sand for thousands of years." However, the new arrivals were joyfully welcomed, perhaps because the Arabs believed that living next to Jews would always yield success.5 Eliezer Avtabi, the Secretary General of the Hapoel HaMizrachi Moshavim Union, the organiza�on that took it upon itself to se�le the Gaza Strip, was among the few who believed in the region's prospects. In his imagina�on, he visualized a dozen flourishing se�lements. He forced Judenfreund to give his blessing, and from that moment, he stormed the task with all his might - to establish a cohesive block of se�lements in the Gaza Strip, not one se�lement a�er another. Although agriculture was not the pièce de résistance, Avtavi set the engagement in agriculture as a prerequisite for admission to the new se�lements, as befits the Torah and Labor movement alums. The challenge was accepted by Raanan Weitz, who headed the Se�lement Department at the Jewish Agency, especially given his personal connec�on to the story - his father bought the lands of Kfar Darom thirty years before. Then, Haim Gva�, the Minister of Agriculture at the �me, also gave his approval and blessing.6 Growing into an agricultural empire Agriculture started developing gradually alongside the se�lements. In the beginning, there was very li�le knowledge and many doubts, both on the part of the first farmers, who had no previous background and the accompanying agricultural instructors, who knew things in theory but lacked prac�cal knowledge appropriate to the local condi�ons. Over �me, they gained both knowledge and experience. The several acres of glass greenhouses for the cul�va�on of a new variety of winter tomatoes grew into a sizeable agricultural empire, which included close to 500 hectares of greenhouses and the export of extensive and diverse agricultural produce: tomatoes, flowers, vegetables, house plants, organic crops, spices, cherry tomatoes and more. The pinnacle of crops was insect-free leafy greens, an inven�on and brand that started in Gush Ka�f and con�nues to be exported worldwide, not necessarily to Jewish clients alone. It turns out that everyone prefers to eat insect-free salad greens for reasons of cleanliness and environmental quality. From farming that could barely support families in its early years, Gush Ka�f turned into an agricultural mega-enterprise, which employed Jews, Arabs and foreign employees, supported thousands of families, brought foreign currency into the State of Israel and earned it great respect due to the quality and abundance of produce. Agriculture in Gush Ka�f became a genuine high-tech business. It incorporated the most recent developments, high-level packing houses, one of the highest yields per acre in the world, technological and agricultural innova�ons, the largest nursery in Israel for house plants and a constant and substan�al supply of organic vegetables, geraniums, spices and insect-free leafy greens to Israel and the world. Gush Ka�f farmers learned to turn the area's natural disadvantages into benefits and move forward. They succeeded thanks to their perseverance, faith and desire to thrive, improve and be part of the Zionist se�lement project. The se�lers' ingenuity changed the image of Israeli agriculture. Vegetable consump�on has undergone considerable changes that con�nued even a�er the disengagement, and the profitability of the primary industries that began in Gush Ka�f s�ll grows strong.7 1 Members of Kibbutz Netzarim in the le�uce fields, 1985 2 Building greenhouses 3 A young orchard in Kibbutz Netzarim
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgzNzA=