Ex-Gaza settler evicted from Knesset

By SHEERA CLAIRE FRENKEL
Screams could be heard throughout the Knesset's committee wing Monday as a former Gush Katif settler was ejected from a meeting of the Interior Committee. The stream of choked-up cries interrupted several committees as Knesset members emerged to watch Yoram Mosabi, a former settler of Gush Katif, struggle against the five guards who evicted him from the building. MK Uri Ariel (National Union-National Religious Party), the head of the Knesset Disengagement Evacuees lobby, invited Mosabi to the meeting, to demonstrate the plight of the settlers to the committee. Mosabi had not yet addressed the MKs when he suddenly stood in his chair and started screaming "Corruption, you have taken everything from us!" at the committee. At the time of the outburst, Ashkelon Mayor Roni Mehatzri was objecting to the government's decision to impound 12,000 square meters of land from Ashkelon for use by the settlers. "You don't care about us, you have thrown us away," yelled Mosabi, who also complained about the meager government compensation he had received. The committee chairman, MK Raleb Majadele, ejected Mosabi from the meeting but it took five guards to escort him from the building. "I am very surprised. I know Mosabi and he has been quiet, serious. He is clearly a man driven to the edge," said MK Zevulun Orlev (NU-NRP). "The displaced settlers have been demolished by the government. They have no jobs and they are eating through their compensation... his despair represents them all." A Knesset security guard said that Mosabi would not face charges, but would likely not be invited back to the Knesset.