August 10, 2008 | 3:58 pm

I remember Gush Katif

Posted by  Orit Arfa

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The third anniversary of the 'Disengagement' is upon us with the coming of Tisha B'Av, and I'm not sure how many Jewish newspapers are covering it.

We've forgotten about the good people of Gush Katif, Gaza -- their spiritual and physical suffering after being left homeless by the State of Israel for three years. (Not to mention the suffering of Palestinian Gazans.) It's old news. It's uncomfortable news. It's (gasp!) right-wing.

Sometimes, in my moments of cowardice, I too am afraid to talk about the Disengagement. It's too painful. People don't want to hear. I easily get labeled a right-wing fanatic for caring so much about the settlers, for being so opposed to the Disengagement, for calling it an 'expulsion' -- because that's what it was: the forceful expulsion of men, women, and children from their homes because they were Jews.

But I've stopped trying to convince people. I get too riled up. I get preachy. There's a video I found that illustrates the argument we all made when we protested on that disgusting summer day in Gush Katif: the terrorists will take over Gush Katif and plan the death of Jews in the settlers' homes and synagogues.

The video would be comical (it looks like they're doing aerobics) if it weren't so dark and eerie.

According to Arutz7, this terrorist training took place on the grounds of the settlement of Atzmona -- the community that once housed Israel's largest plant and flower nursery.

When I see the potential killers all covered up, prancing about to the cryptic Arabic music, I think what a perfect caricature of evil. But it's not a caricature. It's real.

And we brought it upon ourselves.

We traded beauty and joy for this.