Photo Credit: Hillel Meir/Tazpit News Agency

Vardina now has mixed feelings about the State of Israel. “Of course, I am happy we have the State of Israel, and it is clear to me that the Jewish Nation is where it should be, in a place that is good for it. On a personal level, I feel that the government is not properly addressing the issues at hand. I voted for this government, a right wing government. The knowledge that they are conducting themselves in this fashion is very difficult for me, especially when I know there are other possible solutions.”

Vardina does not know what the future holds for her. She knows that suggested solutions were decided in haste. There is some sort of vague solution to relocate them, but she is not sure if it’s a good solution. When she told her five-year-old son that they will have to move he burst into tears, not wanting to leave his home and friends.

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“I haven’t done anything wrong; on the other hand, I don’t feel wretched. I am a happy person, and don’t want to categorize myself as someone miserable. I feel that in general, what is going to happen is wrong. On one hand, the alleged owner will not be able to use the land – the Ministry of Defense has already decided on that. So the houses will be destroyed for no purpose whatsoever. Anyhow, where has he been for the past twelve years since the houses have been built? I am having a very hard time accepting all this, and I don’t know how it’s all going to end. I am going through a process of mourning now, but it’s important for me to conserve my strength for the future. I will survive all of this”.

“The government tried to do right by everyone, but this is not justice, this is a discrimination against Jews in favor of the Arabs. I want to tell the government and the entire world – we are here to stay! Don’t disturb us in building our country!” Vardina concludes.

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Aryeh Savir is director of the International division of Tazpit News Agency.