Bassi tells settlers ‘get children ready’

One of the conclusions reached from the 1982 Yamit evacuation is that children suffer the most from the evacuation process, and that is why settlers must prepare their children for the disengagement, Disengagement Office Head Jonathan Bassi said Sunday. In an interview with Channel 2, he added that very few settlers slated for evacuation under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Gaza disengagement plan in July have contacted the Disengagement Office in a bid to reach an arrangement. “Only 200 families have submitted applications to the office,” he said, adding that those who leave in a group will be settled together and will be much better off. Bassi said hundreds of forms have been downloaded from the Disengagement Office's Internet site. Despite this, he estimated that by the time of evacuation in the summer, 70 percent of the settlers will in fact come to some kind of arrangement with the office. Bassi noted that most of the settlers said they believe the amount of compensation is reasonable. However, some settlers particularly those in their 20’s, said compensation fees are very low. Speaking on the issue of security around him and the threats on his life, Bassi said he would have taken the role even if he had known about the threats in advance. He said he had not volunteered for the job, but was called upon by the prime minister to do it. Bassi added that he believes the evacuation will be carried out quietly. “I think the people of Gush Katif are the salt of the earth, people like you and I who want to continue living among us after the disengagement," he said. "There may be a few who may try to inflame the atmosphere, and naturally there will be those who will wish to remain in their homes until they are evicted, but they will not resist.” Bassi noted that what is important is where these people will live after they are evacuated. “We have begun a dialog in a bid to reach something more organized in the near future,” he said. Bassi also said settlers would have to leave the area up to 48 hours ahead of the evacuation, otherwise they would not be entitled to compensation. “I am not being evicted from my home" When asked what he thinks of the settlers’ protest, Bassi said he is not judging them. “I have no moral right, I am not about to be evicted from my home,” he said. Bassi took questions from settlers slated for evacuation. A resident from the Elei Sinai settlement in the Gaza Strip asked him why settlers have to chase the Disengagement Office for forms, and why they have to download them from the Internet. Bassi replied that a local office was scheduled to be opened and that forms would also be sent by post. Regarding complaints of low compensation, he said the Disengagement Office would have liked to offer higher compensation, but it is working within the limits that had been set.

Bassi tells settlers ‘get children ready’

Based on conclusions reached from Yamit evacuation in 1982, Disengagement Office chief says 'children suffer most'