Desert Miracle – History of Gush Katif, the Jewish communities of Gaza

For about 30 years, Gush Katif was a miracle in the desert where Jewish agricultural towns grew bug-free lettuce, cherry tomatoes and developed thriving communities with innovative, organic farming techniques. Join Avner Franklin of the Gush Katif Museum as he takes us on a journey from the 1970s when Golda Meir, Ariel Sharon and Yitzhak Rabin developed the Five Finger Plan to develop Israeli Gaza. Over the next several decades, barren deserts were turned into lush, green farmland and tourists flocked to the white sand beaches of Hotel Neve Dekalim. It was just a short drive from Ashkelon through Gaza City to what was called a “Garden of Eden” in the desert.

This special podcast marks the 19^th anniversary of the Disengagement from Gaza in 2005.

Four people standing in Gaza in 1977 where the community of Ganei Tal would be built. All of the 23 communities in Gush Katif were built on barren areas. Credit: Gush Katif Museum.

Ganei Tal began in 1978 and became a thriving moshav of about 500 people that produced tomatoes, flowers and other agriculture products for export to Europe and throughout Israel. Credit: Moshe Milner, Israeli Government Press Office, July, 2005.

A replica of the sixth-century synagogue mosaic from Gaza discovered by archeologists. Credit: Ben Bresky

Jewish refugees from World War II created Kfar Darom in Gaza named for the Talmudic era community that once existed there. The land was purchased in 1930. The community was built in 1946., They were forced out in 1947. It was rebuilt in 1970 as an army base, and became a civilian community in 1989 which lasted until 2005.

A greenhouse in Gush Katif. The region was known for it innovative agricultural technology that grew organic lettuce with no insects or pests. Credit: Daniel Ventura, 2005.

Gush Katif settlements in Gaza strip. Members of Mazel Tarin family take care of horses in Pe'at Sade settlement. Credit: GPO, Moshe Milner, July 2005

The menorah rescued from the synagogue in Netzarim. Gaza. Credit: Ben Bresky

The menorah on the Netzarim synagogue in Gush Katif. Credit: Daniel Ventura, 2005

NOTES:

• Gush Katif Museum in Jerusalem

• History of the Jews of Rafah in Gaza - Jewish History Moment Podcast

• History of Jewish Gaza - Jewish History Moment Podcast

• The Israeli Government's Policy Towards Settlements in the Gaza Strip 1967 - 2005 by Hagai Huberman and Miriam Bilig (Hebrew)