Illustration
Photo: CD Bank
Leah Adler's grandson
Photo: Leah Adler
Grandparents against disengagement
Hundreds of elderly Israelis whose grandchildren reside in Gush Katif set to go on anti-pullout march
TEL AVIV - Grandparents from across Israel are set to embark on an anti-pullout march Monday to protest what they say is officials’ refusal to allow them to see their grandchildren.
Havi Golan, a protest organizer who resides in Neve Dekalim, said her parents who live in Tel Aviv face obstacles every time they come for a visit, ever since the Gaza Strip was sealed off.
“If they want to come for a visit they need to turn to the permit administration and apply for a special permit,” she said. “Sometimes it takes several hours and other times several days.”
“On Monday, the grandfathers and grandmothers who want to protest this matter will arrive,” Golan said. “Most of them are Holocaust survivors who fought in all of Israel’s wars and they find it difficult to accept this ban on seeing their grandchildren.”
The planned protest march is intended to be devoid of any provocations and is slated to be a short one.
“Because of the age and the heat, they will arrive by vehicle to one of the first roadblocks in Kissufim, and from there they’ll seek to march to Gush Katif without permits in order to meet the grandchildren and great grandchildren,” Golan said.
‘Where would they be in six weeks?’
Another protest organizer is Leah Adler, a grandmother of seven. Last week, Adler wanted to attend one of her grandchildren’s birthday party in Gush Katif, but was forced to return to Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, because she failed to secure the required permit.
“Do I need to ask for a permit before I see my grandchildren? Adler said. “Where have you heard of such thing? It’s my grandchild’s birthday, am I supposed not to arrive?
The grandparents are planning to meet at 4:30 p.m. (9:30 EDT) Monday and head to the Kissufim crossing, where their protest rally will be held with the participation of their children and grandchildren.
Adler said many have expressed interest in the march and adds her phone has been ringing off the hook.
“We protest what they’re doing to our grandchildren,” she said. “We can’t sleep at night because we’re so worried, wouldn’t you be worried? Where would they be in six weeks?”
