"I ask that you forgive me for voting in favor of the disengagement
from Gaza," Culture and Sport Minister Limor Livnat said Thursday during a meeting with former residents of the Gush Katif settlement bloc in the Strip.
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Israel pulled out of Gaza in the summer of 2005, but the majority of former settlers who were evacuated from their homes as part of the unilateral disengagement still reside in temporary housing units throughout Israel's southern region.
During the meeting, evacuees who are currently residing in the Shekef and Amatzya communities east of Kiryat Gat complained of harsh living conditions.
Livnat, a member of the ruling Likud party, said, "The State must apply affirmative action in dealing with the evacuee population."
During a recent visit to the Lachish region, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu listened to the evacuees' complaints and requests, which included the lack of permanent housing for families. He answered, "There will be solutions, and they will be soon."
Data submitted to the prime minister indicate that 1,400 evacuated families will live permanently in the Lachish area, but construction has begun in just 35%, or eight, of the permanent communities.
Meanwhile, 85% of the evacuees are living in 18 communities of makeshift housing. Most of them have not yet begun construction on their new homes.
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