Sunday, February 4, 2018: Tree planting for the Tu Bishvat festival has long been a tradition for Mossad retirees, and this year was no exception. Some 50 members of Agamon, the Mossad Veterans Association, arrived at the Nitzana Cargo Terminal on Israel’s border with Egypt to hold the annual ceremony in the Agmon Grove, which was established in honor of the Mossad veterans in 2006, next to the Nitzana Educational Eco-Village.
Leading the delegation was
Nahum Admoni, who was Mossad Director from 1982 until 1989 and the previous Agamon Chairman. Many of the participants were octogenarians, including Admoni who is 88. They were happy to be there on the bright and warm winter day and were all perceptibly very familiar with one another after years of working together in dangerous and clandestine situations. Some were wary of the KKL-JNF reporter and photographer circulating amongst them, and requested not to be photographed.
Waiting on the tarmac to meet them was Nitzana Terminal Director David Chazut, Deputy Director Elli Tessler, and Director of KKL-JNF's Israel Fundraising Department Michael Ben Abu, who all warmly welcomed their guests.
David Chazut told them that they helping to turn this dry spot in the desert into an oasis of greenery.
“We love hosting you here. Over the years you have all become part of our Nitzana family.”
Elli Tessler gave an up-to-date explanation of the operation of the terminal:
“We are situated on the border with Egypt and this crossing is one of the tangible expressions of the ongoing peace accord that Jerusalem signed with Cairo in 1982. Goods move primarily from Israel to Egypt and from Egypt to the Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank. The terminal processes about 1200 trucks per month and the volume is growing steadily. However, we are expecting a quantum leap in cargo tonnage within the near future. Israel is short of sand for construction and I can now reveal that we will probably begin importing sand from Egypt by way of Nitzana.”
Michael Ben Abu said that
making the desert green is high on the mandate of KKL-JNF.
“We are proud to be part of this project, which we have been conducting since 2006. The entire area is dotted with our olive trees. I want to thank our KKL-JNF representative
Oranit Ginat from the Har Hanegev and Arava Regions, and
Gila Benisti from the Airports Authority for their work in making this happen.”
Nahum Admoni spoke next. He told everyone that the only reason that he is always asked to speak is that no one else is permitted to talk and show themselves.
“Welcome to everyone, especially all those over 80. There is no greater project associated with Agmon than this one here at Nitzana. We began in 2006 and some of the olive trees we planted then are already bearing fruit. I want to express our appreciation to KKL-JNF and the staff here at the terminal for helping us, and allowing us to plant trees in this spot, at the border with Egypt. Today I can reveal that within Agmon there have been discussions and plans to move this project closer to Tel Aviv because this destination is difficult to reach for some of our members. I, as president of Agmon, and one of the elderly, refused to consider the idea.”
His statement received a resounding clap from the audience.
A participant called Mike read the Planters Prayer before they all dispersed to plant saplings that had been pre-prepared by KKL-JNF staff on the edge of the tarmac. Helping the elderly to plant the trees was a group of young volunteers who were doing pre-army community service at the nearby Nitzana Educational Village, which is also supported by KKL-JNF together with its Friends worldwide.
While planting her tree, Nira, one of the participants, said that she had worked for the Mossad for over thirty years.
“I have no words to describe how good I felt working in the organization. We worked extremely hard and sometimes in most difficult conditions, but we always knew that we had a purpose and a mission and that was to protect our country, the State of Israel. I could not have wished for a more satisfying and fulfilling occupation.”
During the visit to the Nitzana, the participants met Michal Keshet, who told them about the variety of programs available at the Nitzana Educational Eco-Village: a preparatory program for young immigrants from the Former Soviet Union; the MASA program for young Jews from around the world who come to get know Israel and engage in challenging desert sports; a pre-military preparatory program for young people from peripheral communities, a Eco-Zionism seminar for students; a solar energy park and more. Some of the most important projects in the village were established with the support of KKL-JNF and its Friends worldwide, including the Beit Uri visitors center, which was built with the support of Friends of JNF UK; the Empowerment Center for Children with Special Needs, established with the support of Friends of KKL France, and, of course, the planting of groves to nurture the environment.
The group then visited the olive grove that they planted in 2006. Before leaving the terminal to have lunch at the Nitzana Educational Village they all assembled at the large gate on the boundary with Egypt to have a group photograph. Standing on the other side of the border watching this unusual scene were a number of Egyptian truck drivers who were waiting to drive into the terminal and wondering what all the fuss was about.
"The visit to Nitzana reminds us all that there exists a different Israel to what we read in the newspapers," Nachum Admoni concluded.