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Gush Katif celebrates Independence Day (www.katifund.org)
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| By Friends of Gush Katif May 12, 2005 |
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A short drama in two acts from the people of the Jewish communities of southern Gaza, Gush Katif.
Memorial Day
Each family slowly approached the grave of their beloved one, the united family of Gush Katif embracing them with love and admiration.
During the ceremony the audience heard speeches and words of comfort from Avner Shimoni, Mayor of Gush Katif, the military commander of the Gaza Division, Rabbis, and KM Effi Eitam who lately moved to Nezer Hazani in Gush Katif showing support for the struggle.
Media from all around the world were present to survey this event in the light of the impending dismantlement plan where thousands of men women and children are to be expelled from their homes and the 48 graves of the cemetery unearthed.
The climax of this commemoration, whichcaused many to shed tears, was when Bryna Hillberg, representing the families of the soldiers and mother of the commando officer, Yohanan Hillberg z'l, read an imaginary scenario: a discussion between the soldiers buried and PM Sharon, the soldiers trying to talk him out of his cruel expulsion plan.
In her imagination, Bryna sees her son and the three others arriving in the dead of night to Sharon?s house: "and then Gideon Rivlin z'l, the elder of the group, says to Sharon: "Sir, think about us, this is such an intense life: 30 years of hard labor and the life work of thousands." Sharon answers him: "I will carry on with the plan, I have no choice, no one imagines the strain that is put on me!"
All of a sudden, lights flicker, as if outside a tempest is blowing, and the soldiers tell Sharon: "We were killed for the sake of this land and we would have done the same, once more if needed! Let us rest in peace, let our cherished families continue on with their lives in peace and quietness."
Bryna then depicts the extraction of the graves, in the heat of the summer:
A group of reserve officers approaches with shovels.
They don?t need guns, says Bryna ironically. The ones they intend to extract are already dead.
The soldiers start shouting in a terrible cacaphony.
They try to run away from the cemetery. Some even faint.
The commanding officer approaches and sees all 4 of them holding hands. He proclaims:
"No one can separate us!"
Independence Day
Hundreds of children dressed in white and blue, waving proudly an orange Gush Katif flag and the national flag, one in each hand, united in the message that the struggle for Gush Katif is the struggle for Israel.
The flags fluttered high above the heads, during the whole celebration.
Each kindergarten child sweetly presented on stage a short story depicting his or her own village. A colorful presentation of Gush Katif was shown. All the children sang together a special song written especially for this occasion by the Ma'arava Mikan music ensemble of Gush Katif.
The event ended with the prayer of the children for the nation and for the well-being of IDF soldiers.
Reprinted from The Katif Fund website (www.katifund.org).
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