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Despite Rockets and Tunnels, Israeli Farmers Remain Hopeful

(Huffington Post) Anav Silverman - Danny Cohen, 50, of Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, 2.5 km. from the Gaza border, is the head of the kibbutz's emergency response team and is among the 60 kibbutz members who have remained despite the rocket fire and Hamas infiltrations. "In the last few years, half of the homes on the kibbutz have been struck by rockets, both by direct hits or by shrapnel from rocket explosions," he said. Cohen points to the most recent house that has been directly hit by a rocket. The blue sky can been seen through a wide gaping hole penetrating the ceiling of the living room and bedroom, which are now full of debris. Chaya Pachuk, 84, who lives in the now partially destroyed house, was not home at the time of the rocket strike. Two days before, Pachuk had gone to her son in Tel Aviv. "As a farmer, it's not so simple to move away," says Cohen. "This is not only our home, but our livelihood as well. The farmers stay here no matter what - we have to take care of the livestock, cows, crops, and fields. We can't just leave all this behind." Eshkol Regional Council spokeswoman Ronit Minaker notes, "Despite the rockets in the past seven years, there has actually been a 35% increase in population - people move here because of the quality of life, the scenic nature, and good community atmosphere."
2014-07-30 00:00:00
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