On video: Fall in Katsrin after the Iranian attack, April 14, 2024/documentation on social networks according to Article 27a of the Copyright Law, photo: MM Katsrin
"Everything we planted before the war was destroyed because there was no one to pick, and it was also impossible to market. But we planted again, we are optimistic," says Uri Alon, the owner and founder of the "Shebil Haselt" farm in Moshav Ptolemy Yosef, in the Eshkol Regional Council.
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According to him, "We planted in all the greenhouses, prepared them for the winter season. We had to host about 25 thousand tourists in the winter, most of them from abroad. Everything was ready and planted, there were several thousand here in Sukkot, but since October 7th almost no one has come." So says Uri Alon, owner and founder of the Shevil Hasalt farm.
"Only a few groups of tourists from the US arrived, mainly those who come As solidarity groups. They come to see the disasters and to be encouraged that the Zionist vision is still alive. I hope that people who come will see the tomatoes that I planted myself during the war."
Normally, the holy month is a time when many families travel around the country and the tourism businesses enjoy good incomes. The main project that encourages, for the 19th year, to go for a walk on the holidays and visit different places, even for free, is the Passover project sponsored by Bank Hapoalim which supports the leading museums in Israel and heritage and nature sites, and offers entry to them free of charge. This year the project salutes the IDF and the security forces and also offers free entry to the leading museums of the Ministry of Defense, including the Defense Museum, the Lehi Museum, the Etzel Museum and the Palmach House.
But not only: in addition to about 170 heritage sites, museums, guided tours throughout the country, free entry will also be allowed to eight sites of small tourism businesses in the south of the country of the association for the promotion of tourism in the Shakma-Bashur area, whose activities were severely damaged in the "Iron Swords" war: The Palm Farm" located between Ofakim and Netivot, the Ron Art Judaica glassblowing workshops in Yishuv Agalim, the Rashonim site in Kibbutz Rochama, the visitor center Kibbutz Hatzerim, the Iron Sheep Heritage Museum in Kibbutz Tzalim, the "Baofen" bicycle rental site, Farm 77 in Moshav Takuma and also the "Salad Trail" ".
"Now we should have celebrated 20 years and we didn't," says Alon. "We focus on agricultural tourism, showing groups from Israel and the world what agricultural Zionism is. We have a guided tour during which the guide goes through the fields. There are cherry tomatoes in a variety of colors and flavors, carrots in four colors, dozens of spices and also a pigeon race."
The "Shilal Haselt" farm is located on the farm of Alon Shabtolemi Yosef. "On October 7, we were like the rest of the Israeli people in the settlements, there was an alert squad at the gate of the settlement, a vehicle with terrorists arrived at the gate. As soon as he saw the emergency room, the vehicle turned around and ran away," he recalls. "It was our luck. The same terrorists continued to the settlement next to us, to the insurance companies, and there it ended badly."
He has written about life since October 7.
"I am a farmer and a farmer does not leave the land. Our entire seat is cleared. I wanted to stay, but under family pressure I also had to evacuate. After two weeks I returned. Little by little, the farmers returned, and recently half of the families with children also returned."
Regarding the farm, Alon says, "Everything we planted before the war was destroyed because there was no one to pick, and it was also impossible to market. But we are optimistic farmers,We planted again and we hope that peace will return to the area and people will be able to come visit us. In the meantime we are waiting for compensation from the state. In tourism we got through the corona, and we will get through this too. We expect people to come to support us, to encourage us, and to leave encouraged."
"Only eight employees"
"As of October 7, most of the Thais who were with us fled, Arab workers obviously could not work here. The moshav itself was evacuated right at the beginning of the war. About a month and a half ago, some of the residents returned," says Orli Naim, marketing director of "Meshok 77" in Moshav Takuma , in the entrances of the Western Negev. The place has existed for about 30 years, growing strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pineapples and more.
Throughout the years, visitors come to the place who enjoy self-harvesting of seasonal produce. "Our farm manager lives in Be'er Sheva," says Naim. "A week after the start of the war, he started arriving, trying to operate as much as possible, but as soon as there are no workers it is very difficult. There were 20 Thais to operate the farm, and he remained alone in the campaign. It took a while for volunteers to arrive. These days, some Thais have returned, but there is still a lack of workers Right now we only have eight employees."
What is happening today in terms of tourism?
"Zero tourists. On Purim we opened a harvest, seven people signed up, and in the end only two came. Usually on Purim the place bustles with life. Tourism is an essential part of the economy. The economy relies on tourism in addition to the marketing of the produce. The economy is very financially damaged. I really hope that people will come , that they will support Otef, they will support agriculture."
How do you deal with the financial damages?
"We are tightening our belts as much as possible. I, the manager of the farm and the employees in the office are doing the work of the workers so that things can still move and we will be able to maintain the existing one. Many farms were closed as a result of the war. We are trying to survive. On October 7th there were many families here, it was stressful Thank God, we got through it safely. On Saturday afternoon, at the direction of the police, people began to evacuate to their homes. From then until the beginning of March, there was no traffic at all, says Avishai Bokovza, the owner of the "Daklim Farm" - a sheep farm. and goats For about 35 years the business has been in family ownership, while according to Bokovza, in recent years the main source of income is tourism, which keeps the farm going.
What's up with the visitors these days?
"First of all, during the entire period of intense fighting, we hosted a volunteer battalion of reservists here. There was no tourism at all. There was no income for the farm for about five months. We are still calmly waiting for compensation from the state, and we are putting our hands in our pockets a little bit. From the month of March, tourism began to wake up and we are hoping and praying that it will slowly We will slowly get back to normal as soon as possible. If we look at the revenues from the beginning of January until now - they are 20% compared to the corresponding period last year. I hope that the people of Israel will come to enjoy and support us. We are strong, and I hope that we will all celebrate with the release of the abductees."
"crazy stories"
"On the morning of October 7, there were alarms and rockets in the air. I ran to the hotel in the kibbutz, there were 250 people here who had to be put in shelters. At noon, hundreds of Nova refugees came to us, and the next day the entire kibbutz was evacuated. Only the standby team and tchai (local emergency team) of which I was a part remained. from him," says Baaz Kretchamer, the founder, curator, guide and manager of the Iron Sheep Heritage Museum, which was established in 2018 in Kibbutz Tzalim and is part of the kibbutz's tourist sites.
"The establishment of the museum has an interesting story," says Kretchamer.
"My grandfather opened In 1913 a Jerusalem workshop for symbols, medals and coins, when he was still a student at Bezalel of Boris Schatz. My father and uncle continued the workshop until 2003. When my father vacated the workshop for closing, I brought a small part of his 'junk'. 24 hours after we finished evacuating, my father passed away and I arranged all the 'junk' on shelves in the shelter near the house. Little by little, people came and visited, and I received a budget to establish a museum.
What is shown in the museum are the stages of production and the machines. For example, I have the model of the first parachute wings or models of the first medal of the State of Israel. What is special is the crazy stories behind the items. These are stories ranging from the Zionist congresses, Herzl, Ben Gurion, the events, the underground, immigration, settlement to the First Lebanon War."
Has anyone visited the museum since the beginning of the war?
"Already on October 8, all the accommodation sites in the kibbutz - hotel, dining room, children's homes - were filled with soldiers. Only a few kibbutz members remained there, and of course the museum was closed all the time. During Hanukkah, I made a proposal that I would host a different military unit every evening, that we would light candles and other Thus a tour of the museum. I put a huge menorah at the entrance to the museum, it was a crazy success."
In February, Kretschmer says, the residents of the kibbutz returned, "but as far as the museum is concerned, there is no routine here. Right now, from time to time, there are all kinds of organized groups that visit disaster sites, who sometimes ask to be here at the hotel and want to visit the museum as well. Regarding Passover, I expect that in terms of families and private visitors It will be a rebirth, I'm really waiting and looking forward to it."
"This Bank Hapoalim project is part of an overall concept of recognizing Israel," says Naama Halevi Parr, director of the Center for Social Banking at Bank Hapoalim. "Hundreds of thousands of people in Israel enjoy free museums, sites throughout the country, tours and many, many attractions. In addition to saving money for the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who travel every year during Passover at our expense, this is also a real help to the heritage sites and museums that are in a very difficult time.
We pay in full Generous to the museums, to all those sites and tours, as it were, all the tickets are already bought in advance for the people of Israel who come in droves. This way, on the one hand, the places guarantee themselves a significant income during the Passover holiday, while the families enjoy saving and multiplying during the holiday."
What is expected regarding the number of Israelis who will take advantage of the benefit this year?
"In normal years, about 300-400 thousand people come. Last year, Passover was also very tense, so the number was about 200 thousand people. This year we expect 200-250 thousand.
On the one hand, the situation now is very tense, on the other hand, the most Our north is Acre. Also, I think that precisely because people did not fly abroad in droves this year, and precisely because of half a year of fighting and the very deep sadness throughout Israeli society - the public will vote with their feet and will use this benefit, leave the house for a moment and take the children for some kind of respite." Halevi
Far adds: "I don't count the success of the project in the number of visitors. The very fact that we have opened up to the public the possibility of traveling in our country and that it is free for everyone - that is the significant thing in my eyes. This year, as mentioned, we also selected eight small tourism businesses in the south of the country that have gone through serious difficulties since Black Sabbath. We need to try to generate some sort of revival and help for those businesses that are really waiting for Israelis to come visit them."
The project will take place on April 24-28 (not on Saturday). For details, the full list of websites and registration: poalimatarim.com