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The star-shaped synagogue of Neve Dekalim could be among those destroyed after the Israeli withdrawal
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04/26
Itzik Saban |
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04/25
Dr. Aaron Lerner |
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| By israelinsider staff and partners April 26, 2005 |
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| It may be that only 'symbolic elements' of the Neve Dekalim shul will be spared. |
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In contrast to previous statements by Israeli Government officials that all synagogues would be removed from the Gaza Strip, it is possible that only "symbolic elements" such as arks and
memorial tablets will actually be spared during the Israeli withdrawal.
Until now, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and others assured the public that all holy structures would be moved in their entirety to the Jewish State so that, among other things, Palestinians would not be able to destroy them (The Palestinian's celebratory rampage in Nablus after Israel abandoned Joseph's Tomb, comes to mind).
"Israel will have no choice but to destroy most synagogues and Mikvehs (ritual baths) in the settlements slated to be evacuated, to avoid the possibility of Palestinians looting them," the source said.
Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz is set to discuss the issue with top military and security chiefs in the coming days, as soldiers continue to prepare for Israel's planned withdrawal of all 8,500 Jewish settlers from Gaza.
There are about 35 synagogues and 22 Mikvehs in Gush Katif, Gaza's largest settlement bloc. Most of the structures are small, but some are made of concrete and house up to 500 people.
The officials will also discuss what to do with Jewish tombs in Gaza, such as a cemetery in Gush Katif, which houses 48 graves.
"There is no chance of uprooting these buildings," said one security source in reference to the synagogues, adding that some of the Mikvehs would probably have to stay as well.
A senior source in the committee overseeing the pullout nevertheless said the group would examine three options: Demolishing all holy structures completely; destroying them partially and leaving a wall intact to be transferred to Israel in order to construct a new building; and trying to move whole, small synagogues buildings.
Then there is the issue of private houses. Initially, Sharon promised homes could remain intact if the Palestinian Authority ensured they would not be given to terrorists. Then, Israeli sources said talks had been conducted about the possibility of selling the houses to the World Bank, although the United States denies this.
Senior officials in the Defense Ministry have said behind closed doors that Israel should not demolish the homes because it would not be well-received by the rest of the world and would remind Israelis of the army's evacuation of settlements in the Egyptian Sinai in 1982.
In the meantime, IDF Radio also reported that Jewish settlers will be denied the right to sue moving companies, and the Israeli Government for the loss of or damage to belongings which remain in Gaza after evacuation day.
Gaza settler leaders are planning a mass protest against the withdrawal tomorrow, promising to bring tens of thousands of people to Gush Katif. To avoid traffic congestion, military forces plan to prevent private vehicles from entering to the settlement bloc.
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