Settler diary 4: Pesach Aceman

Pesach Aceman, a 63-year-old Jewish settler from Ganei Tal in Gaza, continues his diary for the BBC News website. In this instalment, Pesach describes the mood in his community on the final day before evacuation.

I must write again today, as I do not know what tomorrow will bring. Will there be a phone line or electricity?

PESACH ACEMAN 63-year-old widower, doctor and father of a teenage daughter Resident of Ganei Tal, Gush Katif Emigrated to Israel from Canada in 1973 Palestinian diary Pesach's previous diary

Last night two loud explosions went off very close to our house. Qassam rockets fired by our Palestinian neighbours, who have apparently agreed not to do so. Nevertheless it seems that our army is too busy with evicting us to respond, as usual these past few weeks.

Emotionally, it's been a topsy-turvy world. Today, the press in all its forms came to our gate, as they did to several of the communities in Gush Katif.

The gate was closed (a large electric gate) immediately as there is disgust for the sharks that have invaded the waters where blood is being spilled.

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At our settlement the police and army arrive but to no avail. They were not allowed in and in many communities, they 'retreated' for now so as to avoid any confrontation.

People are in pain. More and more are staying to what we can say will be the end (or beginning) despite having packed up.

It is such an emotionally painful experience that most want to stay with their neighbours and friends of over a quarter of a century to share what may be these last moments.

Certainly that was the feeling on Sunday during the special prayer services for the fast day which commemorates the loss of the first and second temples, the expulsion from Spain and the first day of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising amongst others.

The service was so uplifting and the shared pain of over 500 people (which caused us to move outside of the synagogue for lack of room) was beyond description.

People's spirits are good.

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I, as a physician have joined the medical team that will be here after the clinics are closed.

I went to Neve Dekalim, the largest community in Gush Katif with over 600 families, to see if there was something I could help the obstetrician/gynaecologist doctor who comes once a week.

The gate was closed and on one side stood a row of police and soldiers and on the other side many people preventing the entrance of these "guardians" of the State from entering.

It also prevented any traffic in or out as well as preventing the moving vans from entering to collect those who packed up their belongings. So I walked to the clinic.

I then went to check out my daughter at the gate to our community and pass out some cold water. It is over 33 degrees Celsius!

It was not confrontational but ended with the army withdrawing. But for how long? A few hours, a day, maybe with God's help forever?

What will the next hour, next day hold?

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Your comments:

I am sad that the settlers have had to give up their homes. But they should been encouraged to settle their in the first place, I believe this is the previous Israeli government's doing. I agree that the land should be given Palestinians. They have had to endure great hardship.
Marie Gray, Bridgnorth, England

Like Dr. Aceman, I am a Canadian Jew who went to live in Israel in the early 1970s, but when I was offered a chance to put down roots in a settlement in occupied territory, I declined it because I believed that any such settlements would be sacrificed in the event of a peace accord with the Palestinians. I take no pleasure in proving to be right and pray that the suffering of people like Dr Aceman will not be in vain. It is now time for the Palestinians to take concrete steps to show that they too are intent on ending the conflict.
Paul Silbert, Perth, Australia

The real tragedy is that two peoples are so divided that the can not bear to live in the same area. The real hope is that these changes may bring that possibility over time.
Daniel, Leeds, UK

It is almost unconceivable that Sharon would lead the charge to evacuate the settlements. Land that he, himself, fought for and conquered in a battle. If, anything, this shows that the present Israeli government is seriously committed to peace. The question is, are the Arabs? What are they prepared to give-up for peace?
Alan Noma, Toronto, Canada

I feel for the doctor but the moving out is a necessary act, in it the Palestinians will have the chance to prove to the world who they really are. Afterwards Israel will be able to point at them and say, didn't we tell you the fundamentalists are terrorists, because a leopard can't make his spots disappear.
Ronnie Gill, Danli, Honduras

The common man is forfeiting his personal privileges for the state to carry out its duty to peoples on both sides. Seldom has such a sacrifice been democratically instated, and the settlers who leave peacefully set a positive example: their stoicism speaks more than the smooth words of any politician. Equally, the Palestinians should allow the Jews to leave with dignity, and should embrace the newly acquired territory with humility. Only this will demonstrate that they merit the confidence that has been extended to them.
Mike, Geneva, Switzerland

I really don't see what Dr Aceman expected. He left Canada to live in a settlement in Gaza; an action illegal by international law. He sounds like he anticipated living there forever! And he is now upset! Returning property to their rightful owners should be celebrated. He should be proud of himself that some of the wrong is being undone, and he is part of it. The whole notion that this land belongs to him based on a biblical story is the bases of all this religious radicalism that has spread in the region. That's how it starts: one group says "my book said this land is mine" and then the other group says "my books said that I should die fighting for it"; and the cycle of radicalism goes on.

I really think a friendly Israel that respects its borders will be good for the neighbourhood. This portrait of Israel as the victim is getting too old. Israeli 'defence' forces are strong enough to really defend Israel without using a security zone. Additionally, building a wall will never provide any security so long as there is injustice on the other side of that wall. Many times the Arab summits have proposed peace for land and a number of Arab nations, such as Egypt and Jordan, have proven their commitment to their word. So please Dr Aceman go home. I hope that all the Acemans in Gaza and the West Bank realize that they too will have to go home one day. Please make that day come with the least pain so that all the people of the region including the Palestinians get on with their lives. When people have lives they would like to keep it and would then see suicide bombings as a waste of that life.
Ahmed, USA

I can understand the emotional comments by our author. Losing a life that they had built up over 25 years or so. But that is precisely the point! They have been there only for so long, having displaced a people who have lived there for centuries. The Palestinians have their rights too.
Ziad Thotathil, Hamilton, New Zealand

In many respects one feels the pain of the settlers that lived in Gaza for many years, sprung roots and made friends and neighbours, and now they are told to leave by the same Sharon that had encouraged them to move into Gaza and establish illegal settlements. Sadder still is the expansion of settlements in the West Bank with the same empty promise of permanency, which will inevitably be broken when the time comes for the final peace treaty. Is it not time to at least to halt any expansion and attempt to phase out these settlements over the years rather than face the same rude awakening and replaying the same senses of anguish and displacement in the West Bank 5 years from today? Furthermore does the evacuation of the settlers give us any insight into what the Palestinian refugees have been going through since 1948 and try to develop a belated sense of justice towards the whole conflict?
Ari, California, USA

I am glad that Pesach Aceman is trying to update his diary in spite of a very emotional scene in Gaza now. They had great hopes and dreams before they made Gaza their home but now it's a different story. I can imagine this is a very difficult time for every settler, and I pray that God be with them and provide them a bright and peaceful place to reside and enjoy life. I really hope that Jews and Palestinians will live as neighbours peacefully.
Jacob, Bangalore, India