Ein Netzarim, a new nahal (para-military) settlement in the Gaza Strip was officially established yesterday. The settlement, about six kilometers south of Gaza, will be populated by members of the Betar youth movement. Several stone buildings have already been built by the Housing Ministry on government-owned land. Gen. Rehavam Zeevi, commanding officer of the Central Command, told the settlers that they would have to alternate their farming pursuits with fighting against terrorists if necessary.
Ein Netzarim is the latest in a series of Jewish settlements established in the Gaza Strip, officially for security reasons, although Israel holds that any territory under Israel’s control is open to settlement, Israeli sources pointed out that there were Jewish settlements in the Gaza area before Israel’s war for independence in 1948.
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