Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon clarifies that the IDF has not been pulled from Gaza border communities as the residents of those communities would like the public to believe. Ya’alon stated that a company of soldiers was repositioned to better address the security needs in the area. The defense minister explained that the security needs have been reevaluated and troop deployments reflect

Ya’alon said that he will not detail the security arrangements in the area, but the removal of scattered soldiers from a number of communities in no way represents the evacuation troops as residents fear and none of the communities have been abandoned as alleged.

Gaza residents however insist that have been abandoned by their government. During a Tuesday, 29 Teves session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee, area resident Merav Cohen explained the feeling of abandonment that is prevalent among areas residents. She added that if the border communities are weak, it has an impact on the entire nation.

Resident Ayelet Epstein told committee members they go to sleep at night afraid of another terrorist infiltration. Epstein explained his and other communities provide a buffer between terrorists and other areas of S. Israel.

Similar sentiments were heard from others as well.

Responding was Bayit Yehudi MK Moti Yogev, a colonel in the IDF reserves. Yogev did not show sympathy but told one representative “You supported the disengagement so now you’re getting yours”. He was referring to the fact that the predominately left-wing border communities and kibbutzim backed the 2005 expulsion of the Jewish community of Gaza. The Jews of Gaza tried to explain they served as a buffer between Hamas and S. Israel, but the communities along the border were not interested in listening. Since then, Gaza has become Hamastine and the warfare continues.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)