“We are proud Christian Zionists and we want to help Israel.” This was the message of the 25 participants of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ) delegation from Germany, which visited Moshav Netiv HaAsara near the Gaza border on Sunday, February 11, in order to monitor the progress of the trees they had planted previously, and to meet residents.
Waiting to meet them in a newly built state-of-the-art bomb shelter situated under a playground in the center of the village was Netiv HahaAsara resident Smadar Shmilovitz, one of the founders of the community. Smadi, as she is known, told the group that there are never enough bomb shelters and that the new one was designed specifically for the children who use the playground.
“We are the closest Israeli residential area to Gaza. Our fence is in fact the dividing fence between Israel and Gaza. When they shoot a rocket towards us we have a mere 15 seconds to rush to safety once we hear the siren. We need shelters on every corner. The children who live here grow up with what they call ‘the orchestra’. First they hear the roar of a rocket being launched on the Gaza side of the fence, followed by the sound of a warning siren, and then the crash of the Iron Dome Missile Defense system destroying the incoming rocket. Then silence and a hesitant back to normal. Nevertheless, despite all this ‘music’, our community is expanding steadily. People want to live here. Just recently a new residential neighborhood was inaugurated with the help of KKL-JNF.”
Smadi took the guests for a walk around the village to see the construction in progress. The moshav was founded in 1982 by 70 families who were residents of the former Israeli settlement of Netiv HaAsara in the Sinai Peninsula, which was evacuated as a result of the peace agreement with Egypt. It was rebuilt on its present site and today is situated just 400 meters away from Bet Lahiye, which is a large Palestinian town in Gaza. The walk ended at a safe lookout point where the visitors could look into Gaza.
After the walking tour ICEJ participant Yvonne Urban, who works in a kindergarten in Germany, said: “It’s difficult to imagine how the large nursery-school we just saw copes in times of emergency. How does the staff get all those kids to safety?"
Next on their agenda was a short bus ride past the tall concrete dividing wall which protects the village from sniper fire. They stopped for a group photograph in front of the iconic huge mural mosaic on one of the concrete barriers.
Later, at the group went to visit the row of security trees planted strategically along the main access road to the moshav, which were donated and planted by the group two years ago. There, the group was met by KKL-JNF’s Arnon Ben Dror. He explained the rationale behind the planting of the row of trees to those that were there for the first time.
“Besides their great ecological value, these trees provide camouflage for people who are driving into the moshav and protect them from missiles and sniper fire from Gaza. This area has also been designated for construction, and these trees will hide the new houses as well.”
Heike Schmitt, who was on her fifth trip to Israel, said that she is fascinated by everything that goes on here.
“I am interested in the history and the political situation. I look for ways to assist Israel. This is the land of God, and what could be better than supporting the land of God?”
Judith Perl-Strasser of KKL-JNF’s European Department said that an ICEJ group from Germany arrives once a year, every year.
“The participants come with boundless commitment and friendship for Israel. Some have been here many times. They want to see the country, feel the country and meet the people. Along the way they also look for projects to support.”
Leading the visiting group was ICEJ official Stephan Lehnert, who runs the organization’s office in Stuttgart. Lehnert, who speaks some Hebrew, said that he has brought over twenty groups to Israel in as many years.
“Our supporters in Germany want to come to see the real Israel, not the Israel that is portrayed in the German media. The trips are people-oriented. We meet Israelis who live on the border, Holocaust survivors, hi-tech entrepreneurs and students. For the last 5 years, we have been collaborating with KKL-JNF as well. Our supporters believe in Israel and the right of Jews to live here. They are members of an array of churches in Germany, and return home as ambassadors for Israel.”
The afternoon was set aside for tree planting in the Tzora Forest. On site to meet the group was KKL-JNF forester Eran Zabadi, who warmly welcomed them, and explained the importance of planting trees in this geographical region.
“We are going to plant Terebinth plants, which are big bushes, and will grow alongside the oak saplings that have already been planted here. In about 20 years, this area will develop into a fully-fledged forest. I am proud to tell you that all the trees you see around us, were planted by hand in the middle of the last century by Jews who fled Europe and other places, and came to live in Israel. The trees they planted had a great influence on the subsequent development of this country.”
Zabadi handed each participant a sapling, a small pick and a copy of the Planters Prayer, which they read in unison. They helped each other to dig and plant.
When her sapling was firmly planted, tour participant Ruth Ott stood up and said: “It’s good to be here. This is my second trip. Last year I was in the North of the country touring the Jesus Trail. I love Israel and I love Jesus. I want to do whatever I can to help this country.”
Before leaving the Tzora Forest, the visitors asked Stephan, their tour leader, to add the planting site with their 25 new bushes, to the list of places they will be visiting next year.