At 2:00PM on Wednesday, the Knesset is holding a special session marking three years since the residents of Gush Katif were thrown out of their homes by the government of Erik Sharon.

Prof. Yitzchak Katz of the Knesset�s Gush Katif lobby will present a detailed report detailing the status of the refugees, their mental and physical health, employment statistics as well as housing issues.

While some lawmakers still hail the expulsion as a success, the statistics paint a different picture, not to mention the deteriorating security situation in southern Israel.

A staggering 17% of former Gush Katif residents are unemployed, about three times the nation unemployment rate. Hardest hit were the farmers, with a 31% unemployment rate.

37% of the former Gush residents described their financial situation as �poor� or �very poor�. 15% admit to requiring financial assistance, which usually comes from their families. 69% do not believe the compensatory sum they are receiving from the national government will cover the cost of building a new home and 24% admit that they are using the funds intended for a new home for their daily existence.

In line with the dire statistics, 55% of the former Gush residents have reported a decline in their health since being uprooted and the same number have been receiving some type of psychological support or similar care. 29% report a deterioration in the family unit, primarily between parents.

On the political scene, 96% feel the national government and lawmakers have all but ignored them and 90% feel there is no one/agency to speak with regarding their issues. The rating given to government agencies by 98% of the Gush expellees is �failed� or �failed big time�.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)