GUSH KATIF EXPELLEES; PROBLEMS REMAIN

A Knesset committee has learned the gravity of the plight of the expelled families, via a report detailing their psychological, emotional and family problems.

The report, prepared by the Land of Israel Legal Forum, was submitted on Tuesday [July 4] to a Knesset committee that deals with the expelled families of Gush Katif and northern Shomron. It talks of sociological and emotional problems, the most extreme of which are: youths who cut their hands and veins, youths who required hospitalization in psychiatric wards, dozens of divorce proceedings, and a high percentage of cardiac incidents and other serious diseases.

The legal forum, which has been accompanying the expellees free-of-charge for over a year and a half, included its own recommendations for speedy and efficient handling of the issues.

One of the participants at the Knesset session was Rachel Yechieli, a volunteer social worker with the youth of Gush Katif. Born in Gush Katif herself, she lived in Moshav Katif when she was thrown out in the framework of the Disengagement.

She told Arutz-7's Hebrew newsmagazine: "Everyone sees and agrees that the emotional situation is very grave, and the bottom line is that no one was prepared in advance–not SELA nor anyone else. I meet with the youth and hear their problems–such as drugs which we never had before, but which have now increased many times over, very difficult psychological problems of my friends and acquaintances, and more and more."

Asked if it is truly important to go into such detail of the problems, Rachel said, "Of course it's important! This is the best proof that the government was not prepared in advance, and didn't know how to treat these problems. If the treatment would have been offered right away, and if they would have listened to us in advance, I believe that most of the problems would not have happened."

Rachel said that "lots of data were presented at the committee session, but no clear answers. Some groups are trying to help, including some municipal councils–but they have to lay out money and take a chance that they will receive budgetary allocations some time in the future. This is not the way things should be run in a normal country."

(By Arutz Sheva, July 5, 2006)

PRAYER FOCUS

Pray that the emotional suffering sustained by the settlers will be given a major priority by the Israel government and those who deal with trauma.

SCRIPTURE

"In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; and from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help came into His ears” (2 Samuel 22:7).