Gaza surfers will be forced to find new waves

NEVE DEKALIM, Gaza Strip — The long strips of white sand pour into the deep bright blue Mediterranean, welcoming visitors to a beautiful beach paradise.

It's not the image normally associated with the Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated areas of the world, home to more than 1.3 million Palestinians and a declining number of Jewish settlers.

But as the deadline approaches for the evacuation of settlements in Gaza, the beach lovers and surfers of Gush Khatif are in mourning.

Most people who frequent the beach -- which is part of the heavily guarded settlement -- know each other. Many of them are kids who grew up there, loving and treasuring the time they spent there.

Lior Barda, a lifeguard at the Neve Dekalim beach can easily spot the regular crowd from the outsiders.

Barda, 21, has been a resident of Gush Katif from the age of three. He spends most of his days at the beach and is usually surrounded by hundreds of people. “In the last two weeks, for example, you could hardly see the sand, there were so many people.”

In addition, there is the core group of about 20 settlers who make up the local surfers community and visit the beach daily; Barda is part of that group. But, he believes he is one of the lucky ones, since his job as a lifeguard requires him to go to the beach on a regular basis. 

He works six days a week between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., but he’s usually there for much longer.

Miri Yehuda / NBC News Lior Barda, a life guard at the Neve Dekalim beach in Gush Katif. He will need to find a new job when the Israeli disengagment plan goes into effect next week.

“This is the only place I know, this is the place I can call home,” Barda said.

These days, he is keeping his routine and things seem normal, but his thoughts are elsewhere.

“I don’t really think about next week,” he said. “I know that next week I will no longer live here and will no longer have a job, but it doesn’t sink in.”

Plan goes into effect
Barda was referring to the Israeli “disengagement plan” that will get under way next week.

The plan announced a year ago essentially means Israel will pull out of all 21 Gaza settlements, as well as four in the West Bank, and hand the territory over to the Palestinians.

The disengagement plan is tearing the Israeli people apart and creating a political firestorm for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who believes Israel can no longer afford to protect the settlements carved sprinkled within the Palestinian-dominated territory.

Ribbons fluttering from cars tell the story around the country. An orange ribbon signifies objection to the disengagement, while a blue one shows support for Sharon's plan.

Even though the government has already sealed off Gush Katif, the main Jewish settlement block in Gaza, in order to prevent people from getting there and disrupting the pullout, hundreds of activists have managed to infiltrate the area.

And many settlers continue their daily routines. Despite the fact time that is running out, many of them still believe the plan will not be executed.

MORE FROM MIDEAST & N. AFRICA

Mideast & N. Africa Section Front

Israel, Hamas near prisoner swap deal Newsweek: Reporter's ordeal in Tehran prison U.K. begins inquiry on Iraq war Amended Iraq election law still angers Sunnis Iran begins war games to protect nuclear sites Iraq PM ramps up Baathist attacks before vote Mideast & N. Africa Section Front   Add Mideast & N. Africa headlines to your news reader: