Bassi apologizes to evacuees
Disengagement Authority chief says, ‘I want to apologize to all the settlers who saw in me, in all of us at the Disengagement Authority, as someone responsible for their eviction, although they know this is not the case.’ Evacuee in response: The apology is too political in its connotation, and the fact that it was presented at a time when the State Comptroller is investigating the Disengagement Authority’s failures is suspicious
Disengagement Authority Head Yonatan Bassi on Sunday apologized to settlers and their families who were evicted from their homes in August during the disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
“I want to apologize to all the settlers who saw in me, in all of us at the Disengagement Authority, as someone responsible for their eviction, although they know this is not the case,” Bassi said in an interview with Army Radio.
“If God forbid, we expressed intentionally or unintentionally injurious and unnecessary remarks beyond the pain that has been inflicted upon them, I really, really, really apologize,” he added.
Responding to Bassi’s comments, Renana Marmelstein, 18, a former resident of Ganei Tal, told Ynet, “I knew that was coming. It is easy to say ‘I made a mistake’, yet that’s too late. The degrading act has been committed.”
Marmelstein, who shared her experience with Ynet readers during the pullout in a diary added, “The truth is we have no home, and we are not being treated in a suitable manner. We learned from you, Bassi, that words are not deeds - and you are good at speaking.”
'We believe we are doing the right thing'
Sharon Sternberg, the former spokesperson for the Gaza Beach community, said, “Bassi’s apology is reminiscent of (former Prime Minister Ehud) Barak’s apology to the Mizrahi (Sephardic) Jews. The apology is too political in its connotation, and the fact that it was presented at a time when the State Comptroller is investigating the Disengagement Authority’s failures is suspicious.”
“I hope the apology is not merely a formality to clear Bassi’s conscience before the New Year, but the beginning of improved treatment of the evacuees,” he said.
Miryam Adler, a former resident of the West Bank settlement Homesh, said, “This is hypocrisy; a crime has been committed against thousands of people who became refugees and against the entire country.”
“The security problems, such as the Qassam fire, are just beginning,” he said.
“The apologies are not helping, only the reestablishment of the settlements and offering full compensation to the settlers will help.”
Bassi also said during the interview, “We believe we are doing the right thing; someone had to do it. I am not sorry for the damage it is causing me in the community.”
