Settler: 'If I stay I may kill a soldier'
Ganei Tal farmer Amnon Ditor calls himself a ‘radical’ Gush Katif settler, says he underwent martial arts training and fears he could kill a soldier if things got violent. On Tuesday he signs his eviction notice and leaves his home peacefully: We are peaceful citizens of this country, but the State of Israel has thrown us to the dogs
“I’m afraid that if I stay here and fight with the soldiers, I might kill one of them,” he said.
Amnon said he is one of the most extreme symbols in Gush Katif, and added he has undergone martial arts training. He said he is afraid of what could happen if he were to participate in clashes with security forces.
“I am leaving before the cutoff date because I am worried about what would happen if I actually start fighting with the soldiers. In the army, I underwent martial arts training, and I am afraid that if things got violent, God forbid, I could accidentally kill a soldier,” he said.
In Gush Katif Ditor grew herbs and owned several greenhouses spread out over several dunams (acres). He left the greenhouses behind, and added that despite agreements reached with Gush Katif farmers, he doesn’t believe anything will come from them.
“The State of Israel has not taken responsibility for anything,” he said. “Israel has abandoned its residents and didn’t bother providing them with alternate housing solutions. I’ve left all my greenhouses behind.
“I may have signed the papers, but I haven’t seen any money. Who knows what will happen?”
Several months ago, a Palestinian mortar hit Amnon’s factory, killing three workers and injuring five.
“Now, the mortars and Qassam Rockets will move from our village to Asheklon. I’m very pessimistic about the future,” he said.
Build us houses first
Despite his decision to leave, Amnon calls on anti-pullout activists who remain in Gaza to continue to fight disengagement.
“They should do everthing they can to disrupt the pullout. They should not let soldiers and cops pull them out easily,” he said.
“I personally spoke with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and IDF Southern Command Chief Dan Harel.
“I told them, “You want to deport us? Fine. But build us houses, find us jobs first."
Thrown to the dogs
Amnon says, “Today, everyone is making lots of promises, but no one is doing anything. I’m leaving here, I’ve got no home to go to, no temporary housing solution, despite the fact I have been in touch with the authorities for six months.”
“We are peaceful citizens who have done no wrong, but the State of Israel has thrown us to the dogs with no homes and no jobs.
"When the mortars fell on us, I asked how they could refuse to blow the bombers up. Soldiers told me they need instructions from policy makers to undertake such a move. It seems the IDF has become just another arm of the political wing.”
