Gaza Surfers, Gaza settlements evacuation, Israel Gaza pull out - Gaza surfing photos

The Jewish settlers of Gaza strip Part 1:

Expulsion from Paradise – (copy right material NO USE without written authorization)

Elazar is in "paradise" – "It is the best surfing spot in the Mediterranean, and the fishing is great too". Born 20 years ago in Gush Katif, just 2 miles from the beach, the sea is his life long passion.

Five years ago, the tourists stopped coming, "can't blame them really – we had daily bombardments of mortar shells from the Palestinian around the Gush. Within a year the hotel went under and closed. I was 16, born in a religious home and wanted my freedom, away from religion, away from home. I still visit my parents on Fridays but now I live here in the best squat in the whole world: We even have electricity, hot water and the view"

Gush Katif is an area of Israeli settlements inside the Gaza strip, 8000 Israeli settlers are surrounded by 1,500,000 Palestinians. The Gush is heavily guarded from all sides by the Israeli army and navy. "There have been infiltrations from the sea by armed Palestinians frog-man, no I am not afraid being all alone in this deserted hotel – even when you can not see them the Israeli armed forces are keeping an eye on what goes on in the water and on the beach – If you are shy I would not go skinny dipping even if the area looks empty…."

According to Prime Minister Sharon's plan, approved by the Israeli government and parliament, 100 days from now, on July 20th all Israeli settlers must evacuate this small heaven and if they refuse the Israeli army, that until now protected them, is tasked of taking them out, by force if needed. But until that time, Elazar and his friends, Uria and Uli are just occupied with swell and the wind direction. "The south-west breeze brings the best waves but as it turns into a northerly direction the sea gets flat. Maybe tomorrow will go diving" – Elazar suggest to his friends, including some of the soldiers patrolling the area, who took a short brake to join a late dinner at his free room at the hotel.

This is the first in a series of stories about the 8000 Israelis and 8000 Palestinians who live in the Gaza settlement area known as Gush Katif. Among future parts: The Palestinians in the Mawassi area who border the settlements, individual and group stories about the settlers and their life until the evacuation.

Palm Beach hotel ( http://www.pbase.com/yalop/hotel ) in the Gush Katif settlement block in Gaza strip was build in the 1980s and operated until the start of the Palestinian intifada at 2000. When the area became under constant Palestinians mortar and rocket attacks the guest stopped coming and the hotel closed down. Few of it's 144 rooms remain connected to electricity and water and are now a squat for local non religious settlers who have no other place to live in the mostly religious, family oriented settlement block. It's residents are the only one in the gush who live without a fence and armed guard.

The hotel will be evacuated as part of Sharon "Gaza disengagement plan" More stories from Gaza are on: http://www.pbase.com/yalop/gaza Tel Katifa, where most photos were taken is about half way between Gaza city and Rafah Gaza Israeli settlers evcuation of gaza settlements, pull-out from gaza by Israel