Daf Productions has produced many albums, including the "Council for a Beautiful Israel" album

Changing Direction

An Historical Album: The Settlements: The True Story

Coming Soon: Hitnachaluyot: The true story of the settlements

The Daf Productions Company and the "Gush Katif Museum" in Yerushalayim have collaborated in the making of a huge project: the production of the Hitnachaluyot album, the album that tells the true story of the settlements, which is being published and will be released in the near future. The purpose of the album, of which thousands of copies will be disseminated in all sectors, is to change the consciousness of Israeli and international public opinion on the great enterprise of settlements in Yehuda, Shomron and the Golan Heights. CEO Daf Productions, David Paz says: "The album will bring about an historic revolution and change of thought"

 In the early years, the settlers were carried on waves of unprecedented public affinity. They were defined real pioneers, redeemers of our patriarchal inheritances, and followers of the generation of "Chomah u′Migdal". Everyone was talking excitedly about Eretz Yisroel Hashleima- the complete and entire Land, redeemed in a just war. The word "occupation" was outside the consensus, never to be uttered.

Indeed, within two decades dozens of communal settlements, rural settlements, seats, kibbutzim and cities sprang up around the West Bank, Jordan Valley, Golan Heights and Gaza. Pioneering spirit and initiative made barren lands bloom into prosperous communities, and abandoned areas were turned into a vibrant focus of human activity. Alongside traditional farming, industrial plants, workshops, and a huge number of private sector businesses and public services were established. The population grew rapidly, and today, at the beginning of 2010, the number of residents of Yehuda and Shomron is 300,000 people; together with the Golan Heights and eastern neighborhoods of Yerushalyim the total is: 650,000 persons.

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Over the years, slow but continuous erosion began, eating away at the prestige and status of the settlement. Wave of criticisms, which were initially restrained, intensified. Parties and organizations left of the political map, which saw the West Bank and Golan Heights as "occupied territory" settlements and "an obstacle to peace" contributed to this erosion. Slowly but surely voices for "land for peace agreement" with the Palestinians increased, which added fuel to the fire de-legitimizing the settlements enterprise.

In the last decade left parties (especially the Arab parties), the leftist media, leftist and human rights organizations –both domestic and international (particularly the UN)- and many countries in the world, enlisted in a rampant slander and de – legitimizing campaign against the settlement enterprise and the settlers. The picture was one sided and distorted; settlers were described as having dispossessed Palestinians of their land. On the other hand, the Palestinians were presented as being victims of an ongoing historical injustice. This campaign was funded largely by the huge financial grants budget European Union and anti - Israeli bodies that provided funding to the leftist organizations in their struggle against the settlement and the settlers.

In reality, a stark injustice was caused to the settlers. The vast majority of settlements are well-tended communities, with developed infrastructure, educational institutions, public religious life that was no different from similar towns west of the Green Line. Many communities throughout Yehuda, Shomron and the Golan Heights offer a higher standard of living and quality of life than those of their counterparts in the interior of the country. The settlers are law-abiding citizens, with the love of the land of Israel burning in their hearts.

This reality, the plain and simple truth, was never revealed fully to the public at large. This was the task undertaken by the album′s producers and editors: to show the citizens of Israel, and to the world, the real picture of the settlement enterprise beyond the ′green line′. The album documents the depth of the grip of the Land, the building boom, quality of life, social life, culture and spirit, economic development and environmental, along with the necessity of maintaining security for all communities, settlements and outposts.

The new album has detailed documentation on all settlements in Yehuda, Shomron, the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley, accompanied by spectacular photographs. It also has an overview of the history of settlements in Yehuda and Shomron and statements of public figures on the importance of settlement and preservation of Israel′s security.

The album will be disseminated in tens of thousands of copies. The new venture will be partnered by heads of communities, businesspersons, activists and heads of organizations of Israel who will take part in the album′s historical revolution.

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The album ′Hitnachaluyot - The Real Story′ is being published in a difficult period. The decision to freeze construction in settlements for ten months, which the Israeli government agreed to in November 2009 under pressure from the American administration, hangs very heavily on the routine life of the settlers leadership, but does not weaken their stance. In fact, after the bitter experience of the uprooting of settlements in Gush Katif, they fight back and are even willing to pay the price of violating the government decree.

The album ′ Hitnachaluyot - The Real Story′ is also a tribute and salute to all those tens of thousands of settlers, the generation of true pioneers who cling stubbornly to their ancestral inheritance with enviable determination.
Daf Productions and the Gush Katif Museum report that in the coming days the general public will receive information about how to be partners in the phenomenal project.