State supports Kfar Aza kibbutz decision to demolish 'Dor Tza'ir' neighborhood
Despite previous efforts by some officials to preserve the 'Dor Tza'ir' neighborhood in Kfar Aza, the state has officially informed the Supreme Court that it supports the residents' decision to demolish it and relocate the memorial. The entrance to the site is currently being moved outside the kibbutz boundaries, and a 'green fence' will be installed to separate it from the community.
In the coming weeks, as some residents of Kfar Aza return to their homes, a symbolic and dramatic change will take place: the 'Dor Tza'ir' neighborhood — one of the most painful symbols of the October 7 massacre — will be cordoned off, and access will be diverted outside the kibbutz boundaries.
For some bereaved families who petitioned the Supreme Court against the demolition, this step proves that it is possible to maintain the memory of the site while allowing the community to return to life nearby. However, for the kibbutz, this is merely an intermediate stage before the full demolition of the neighborhood and the relocation of structures to an external memorial complex, as decided by a majority vote of the community.
The Supreme Court must now decide whether there is a legal basis to intervene in the families' request to preserve the ruins. The kibbutz has stated that the area will be separated by a 'green fence' made of vegetation rather than steel, to avoid constant visual reminders for residents. Tours of the site will be significantly reduced to protect the privacy of the returning community, though a visitor center will be established outside the kibbutz.
Government ministries, including Heritage, Finance, Defense, Interior, and the Tkuma Administration, have submitted their response to the petition. Despite reports that Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu had favored preserving the site, the official state position submitted to the Supreme Court is firm: 'The decision of the members of Kfar Aza must be respected.'
'The decision regarding the structures in the 'Dor Tza'ir' neighborhood is entrusted to the members of the kibbutz,' the state's response stated. 'Any intervention that would force the kibbutz to preserve the structures in their current location could harm the residents' return to life and their trust in state institutions.' While acknowledging the importance of preservation, the state emphasized that rehabilitation and development needs must take precedence.
The 'Dor Tza'ir' neighborhood suffered a devastating toll: 11 people were murdered and 7 were kidnapped, including captivity survivors Gali and Zivi Berman and Emily Damari, who have themselves opposed the demolition. Last March, 70% of the kibbutz members voted to demolish the neighborhood. The petitioning families, including bereaved parents, continue to fight for the site, stating: 'This is a crime scene against humanity and a staggering physical testimony that has no substitute.'
