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Rachel Saperstein is a teacher at the Neve Dekalim ulpana and a spokeswoman for the Katif Regional Council.
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By Rachel Saperstein
February 27, 2007
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We have returned to our refugee camp after our trip to Florida. The trial, Moshe Saperstein vs. Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization, lasted two days. (My husband had been wounded in his remaining left hand and left leg by a PA/PLO shooter in February 2002). The PA had defaulted and had no representation in court. Now it was only a matter of determining compensation.
The attorneys for my husband were brilliant, articulate and fully prepared with documentation captured from PLO headquarters showing that Yasser Arafat had ordered and paid for the deadly attack that left three dead and my husband further disabled. In addition, a surveillance camera had captured the event on film.
A jury of eight voted unanimously to compensate my husband with sixteen million dollars. And pursuant to the Anti Terrorism Act of 1990 the judge was duty-bound to treble the amount.
I was on the stand for over an hour describing our life in Gush Katif. When I spoke of my husband's suffering I spoke from the heart, and clearly touched the hearts of the jurors. My husband concluded his own remarks on the stand with "Don't feel sorry for me, because I don't feel sorry for myself."
We felt a sense of justice but also of futility. No one has ever forced the PA/PLO to pay its debts. Despite other similar judgments no one had received compensation.
Despite severe jet lag I plunged into work, holding meetings with the staff of each Operation Dignity project. The Orange Gallery had been out at exhibitions. Our work was now on exhibition in Holland. The square in front of our two pre-fabs has been paved. Furniture rescued from Gush Katif was now in the Gallery. Earthenware urns stand ready for spring planting. We will create an orange garden around the seating area.
Our official opening date is March 19, the First of Nissan, the month of Passover -- our holiday of freedom.
I emphasize, with the greatest pride, that the Orange Gallery is a Gush Katif project. Not one shekel of government money was used, or even offered. We took control of our own lives with strength and determination. We created a Gallery for our artists and artisans, and our Bnei Menashe sisters. And you, my dear friends, by your belief in us, gave us the funds and encouragement to succeed. Be proud of your accomplishment, and continue to support us. See our website.
KATIFNIK director Natan Anavi reports, "We gave out flyers and have been getting calls to repair all those pesky things that never seem to get fixed. People always remember to make repairs before the Pesach holiday."
Our Bnei Menashe women have produced beautiful chalah and matza covers, and a Shabbat bag. You'll be seeing their work on our website.
While out for a power walk last night I met some neighbors. "While you were away the Expulsion Authority called a meeting but we refused to attend," they said.
"Why?" I asked.
"They won't allow our married children to live near us at the new Nitzan site. They won't allow long-term renters to live with us. We want all our people together! They may have destroyed our Gush Katif homes, but they'll never destroy our spirit!"
It is good to be back.
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