Philatelic Services Issue Gush Katif Stamp

An exquisite philatelic keepsake honoring Gush Katif.  The Knesset mail was stamped with a special seal, saluting the Gush Katif Museum 

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin hosted a very moving ceremony in his office, saluting the Gush Katif Museum on its second year of operation and remembering the disengagement, which he called a "national trauma."  

At the event, the Israeli Stamp Service produced a new stamp honoring the museum.  

The Minister of Communications Moshe Kachlon and Director of Philatelic Services Yaron Ratzon were amongst the distinguished guests at the event.  

"The days of Tisha B′av mark the making of that controversial decision which led to the national trauma," began Speaker Reuven Rivlin. "There are those who call it an expulsion. The people of Israel are still trying to recover from the horror, but to no avail.  

"Those people whom we forced out of their homes still have no peace of mind. We won′t forget the trauma. For many it was a hard blow on a personal level as well as on a national level.  

"We mustn′t forget our blunders so that we can have better judgment next time. I bless the staff at the Gush Katif Museum; there is no question that this stamp′s presentation will have historic resonance."  

Director of Philatelic Services Yaron Ratzon said of the event, "This ceremony will go into the history books of the philatelic services in an official and governmental way. We commend the management of the Gush Katif Museum that works tirelessly."  

The museum′s director Shlomo Wasserteil told the crowd that the expulsion was a direct result of senseless hate, similar to what caused the destruction of the Second Bais HaMikdosh. "The people of Gush Katif and the Gush Katif Museum represent reasonless love, and the public should assist us in our goals."  

MK Uri Orbach, Danny Dayan, chairman of the Yesha Council, and MK Avraham Michaeli (Shas party) also spoke at the event.  They praised the Gush Katif Museum for its tremendous contribution to preserve the Gush Katif heritage.

All mail from the Knesset on the day of the stamp′s release, was marked with the special issuance stamp, which officially salutes the Gush Katif Museum.