For Ofakim mayor, withdrawal is a family affair

MANY IN ISRAEL have warned about the threat of civil war erupting over Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan to start withdrawing from the Gaza Strip in two weeks. But in the Asraf family, the battle over disengagement has already placed brother against brother.

Avi Asraf is the mayor of Ofakim, sister community to United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ through Partnership 2000. He was elected thanks to Sharon’s support and while he opposed the disengagement plan at first, he now calls it “legitimate” and says that it has to be carried out.

Eliko Asraf, one of Avi’s nine brothers and sisters, lives in the Gaza Strip settlement of Kfar Darom with his wife and eight children. He is still convinced that something will happen to prevent the withdrawal from taking place.

“I am not thinking about the day after,” Eliko said, speaking just two weeks before police officers and soldiers are set to come to his house to evacuate his family. “We have to fight the evacuation and prevent it from happening. I still believe there will be a miracle.”

Avi Asraf told NJ Jewish News that there is tension in his family over the plan. He said he recently visited the Gaza Strip’s Gush Katif bloc of settlements with city council members, and it tore his heart out.

“I have mixed feelings, because the people of Gush Katif are wonderful, and I hate to see what they are going through,” the mayor said. “But the government and the Knesset made a legitimate decision. As difficult as it is, we have to accept it and handle a tough situation as well as we can.”

Ofakim became the focal point of the anti-disengagement protest movement starting on Aug. 2, when thousands of demonstrators moved into the town’s central park. The city provided mattresses and water to support the influx of people, who intended to remain in Ofakim until Friday, Aug. 5.

A major demonstration with leading rabbis was set to take place at Ofakim’s Rabin Community Center on Wednesday. The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip, which organized the event, chose Ofakim because of its proximity to the Gaza Strip.

While council leaders have committed to a police request to remain in Ofakim, more militant settler leaders said they would lead thousands of people on an illegal march from Ofakim to the Gaza Strip to try to enter Gush Katif. Thousands of police were stationed around Ofakim to prevent the march.

“We are welcoming our friends who oppose the disengagement with love,” Asraf said. “This gives people the chance to get to know Ofakim as a blossoming and successful city, and I hope it convinces some of the people to move here.”

— GIL HOFFMAN