Plans Afoot to Replant in Gaza the Foolishly Uprooted Communities of Israel

In 2005, Israel made a controversial and, in retrospect, calamitous decision. Facing the consequences of the disastrous Oslo peace process and the Second Intifada, the weak and corrupt government of disgraced Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, ordered the unilateral disengagement of Israel from Gaza, primarily in the Gush Katif (Harvest Bloc) communities in the south of the Strip. This move, intended by the Americans and Israeli leftist lackeys as a peace overture, involved forcibly removing some 10,000 resisting Israeli settlers from their homes, in many case with IDF soldiers and residents, tears in the eyes of all, dragging them out.

Then Defense Minister Arik Sharon, the once legendary godfather of the Israeli settlement movement, gave the expulsion his betraying kiss of approval, to his everlasting shame. Olmert, for his part, has lately emerged from prison, to continue embarrassing himself and re-soiling his already ruined reputation.

Fast forward to the present day, and the recent savage incursion by Hamas into southern Israel has triggered a bitter twist of fate: Gazans, made homeless by IDF pursuit of civilian-shielding Hamas terrorists and the destruction of terror infrastructure, are now fleeing south and now west by the hundreds of thousands. They are now advised to seek refuge in the al-Mawasi enclave, the narrow strip that once stood by the sea, in the shadows of the verdant and prospering bloc of Israeli settlements.

The disengagement from Gush Katif, all of Israel and what’s remains of the rational world now sees, was a monumental error. The folly has reverberated through the ensuing sixteen years, underscoring the often thankless nature of concessions in the volatile chess game of Middle Eastern politics. Israel’s hasty and foolhardly withdrawal was met not with peace but with a radical escalation of violence, from the constant launching of tens of thousands rockets into Israel till the suprise invasion and massacres of October 7, the greatest pogrom against Jews since the German Nazis.

The decision, imposed by the US, to destroy all settlements and hand over the keys to the Palestinian Authority was as ill-advised then as it is today. Within two years, after a decisive election, the area fell under the control of the Hamas IslamoNazis.

So much for elections. There have been none since. There will be none for the foreseeable future. The democratic process was stifled as Hamas tightened its grip on power, using massive donations by NGOs not to build a better life for Gazans, but to build a massive terror infrastructure underground and make and buy weapons for use against the hated Jewish State.

The subsequent years have been marred by a cycle of violence and suffering. The Palestinian residents of Gaza, under Hamas rule, have seen their quality of life steadily deteriorate. Israel, meanwhile, has had to continually defend its borders against attacks from a territory it once controlled and hoped to be a starting point for peace. Attempts to stop the influx of weapons and material for attacks was decried by the international community, which gave a rat’s ass about Hamas attacks on Israel.

The latest chapter in this tragic saga began on October 7, when Hamas launched a brutal invasion into southern Israel, marked by barbaric acts and wanton destruction. Israel, in its bid to defend its citizens and sovereignty, was compelled to retaliate. The military operations, necessary to clear Hamas from the border areas, inadvertently turned many Gazans into refugees, fleeing their homes in search of safety.

The irony is palpable and painful. Al-Mawasi, once overshadowed by the prosperity of Gush Katif’s greenhouses and communities, now stands as a stark reminder of what has been lost. Where Israeli farmers once exported millions in agricultural produce, Gazans now huddle, displaced by the very group claiming to fight for their liberation.

This turn of events is a harsh lesson in the unpredictable outcomes of political decisions. Israel’s withdrawal from Gush Katif, heralded by some as a step towards peace, has instead spiraled into a decade and a half of conflict and misery. And the now two million residents of Gaza, far from being liberated, find themselves trapped between the oppressive rule of Hamas and the devastating consequences of its actions. Hamas has brought about in Gaza a second Nakba, and bears all the blame for it.

As we look toward the future, there emerges a critical opportunity for Israel and the region. The area of al-Mawasi and the former Gush Katif could provide a chance for Israel to re-establish a presence that ensures the safety and security of Israelis and Palestinians. Despite not so gentle prodding by the US, Israel is not going to make the same mistake of handing over control to the PA, not how much lipstick is applied to this pig. The Americans must face up to their failed policy and change course.

This would involve a strategic resettlement, designed to prevent the return of Hamas or its supporters near the border area. Such a move could not only restore stability to the region but also serve as a step towards a more secure and peaceful coexistence. But it should also mean a cooperative effort to create something new, not with the corrupt and failed PA, but with the more optimistic and self-sufficient Gulf States: the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, who are also deeply skeptical of Iran’s proxies like Hamas.

The solution, in addition to a broad Israeli controlled area in the northern Strip, is the rebuilding in a joint venture with moderate Arab states, rebuilding the evacuated area of the former Gush Katif, and creating a new start in the area. It’s called Nova Katif.

Renaming the area ‘Nova Katif’ is loaded with symbolism. ‘Nova,’ meaning ‘new,’ signifies a fresh start, a rebirth from the ashes of sorrow and destruction. It is a fitting tribute to the uprooted Israeli communities of the area, a reminder of what once was and what could be again. Moreover, it commemorates the victims of the recent SuperNova rave tragedy, a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the senseless brutality of conflict. These were crimes not just against Israel but against humanity. Hamas, the government of Gaza, has proven itself a criminal regime, imprisoning and implicating Gaza civilians as well.

As Israel, the US, and Arab partners consider “the morning after” in the rebuilding of al-Mawasi, and Nova Katif, it’s not just about reconstructing buildings and infrastructures. It’s about sowing seeds of hope and healing. Replanting and rebuilding in this area could serve as a humane response to the devastation, a gesture of solidarity and compassion for all affected by the recent turmoil.

This proposed rebuilding and renaming is more than a strategic resettlement to ensure security and prevent the return of Hamas near the border. It’s a symbolic act of restoring dignity and peace to a land scarred by conflict. It’s an opportunity for Israel to demonstrate that amidst the chaos and pain, there lies the potential for renewal and reconciliation.

The creation of Nova Katif could serve as a beacon of hope, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a chance to honor the memories of those lost by creating something enduring and positive. This initiative would not only provide a much-needed sense of security but also serve as a step towards a more harmonious coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Could it be the model for a two-state solution, in Gaza? Jews and Israelis could live side by side with Gazan neighbors and international entrepreneurs, realizing the vision of a Singapore-like port city on the Med, without Hamas and its savagery.

The Nova Katif initiative does not address the issues of the former so-called West Bank of Jordan, claimed and resettled in parts by Israeli Jews in the Biblical lands of Judea and Samaria. This is more logically solved with recognition of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, nervously dominating a 80% or more of a restive Palestinian population, as the logical homeland for Arabs west of the Jordan, a Free Palestine “From the River to Saudi.”

But that’s for later. Gaza first. With Israeli solidifying it’s security control, and in no mood to repeat its 2005 folly, Nova Katif’s time has come. It is a time for compassionate and forward-thinking strategies to address the region’s challenges. Possession is nine-tenths of the law. If the US and the world doesn’t understand why Israelis are reticent to commit suicide by handing over Gaza to Palestinians as we did once before, maybe they need more time. Fool us once, shame on us. Fool us twice? Shame on you!

Nova Katif is a healing symbol of the enduring hope for peace in this war-torn region. Resettling and replacing Israeli life there and the unwavering commitment to building a future where such tragedies can be safely relegated to the past.

Time for Israel to grow a pair, plants some seeds, and stand upright for what’s just.