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Sunday Sep 14, 2008
The Weekly Portion: A militia of thugs
Posted by MK Dr. Ephraim Sneh
Comments: 14
    
Precisely because it was given almost no media coverage, the attack on an IDF base in Samaria by settlers on Wednesday, is for me the major event of the last week. It exposes the tip of the iceberg of a major issue. On Wednesday, after some construction materials were confiscated in an illegal outpost in the West Bank, dozens of settlers attacked an IDF base in the Ramallah area. A military vehicle was sabotaged, a tanker supplying water to the soldiers was blocked and detained, a dog urged on by a settler bit one of the soldiers, and a deputy battalion commander got his hand broken. If those who had dared to do such a thing had been Palestinians, they most certainly would have been fired upon, and in explaining their deaths the IDF spokesman would have said: "the soldiers acted in accordance with guidelines and in their self-defense." But settlers, it seems are allowed to do anything they please. RELATED
It is important to be accurate and say this is an extreme and especially violent group, which is not to be identified with the entire population of Israelis in the West Bank. But this group, made up of many hundreds of youths guided by extremist rabbis, has escalated its activities over the past year. It violently harasses Palestinians on their property, it interferes with IDF activity meant for their defense. It is well-organized and constitutes in fact a zealous and brutal militia of thugs who scoff at the laws of the State of Israel and view soldiers and policemen as an enemy that needs to be fought against.
In the last year, the government has done nothing of significance to limit the spread of settlements. The number of housing projects in the settlements increased last year by 42%. Not a single illegal outpost has been dismantled. The settlers have no cause, therefore, for resentment. It is the soft-handed policy that actually increases the brazenness of these thugs. Terrorism, as is known, can smell any weakness. The attack on the IDF must not be passed over in silence and must not go unpunished. As of this moment not one of the rioters has been arrested. The response to the events of the week is a test for the government, and mainly to the defense minister who, by law, is in charge in the territories. But I have low expectations of this timid government. This "Weekly Portion" is my 150th. I have made sure to send out one almost every week in the last three years. I thank readers for their faithful following and for their responses.
1 |
Gil,
Sunday Sep 14, 2008
Clear words from a man who knows about violence-and how to stop it.
2 |
nuchem,
Sunday Sep 14, 2008
Why don't you spell out clearly defined borders instead of going behind the backs of your citizens there, and collaborating to surrender one-sidedly 99% or so lands to the foe.
The foe even recognizes you in his kids: textbooks? Of course not.
But for you guys it's always easier to pit your own solders against your own citizens especially if you're from labour and coalition with same than it is to take out one kassam weapon from foe.
You guys live for world opinion at your citizens: expense in the one and only tiniest Jewish homeland. What did you get for pulling out of Gaza, rockets in face
3 |
er,
Sunday Sep 14, 2008
Almost everything in your and Yaakov Katz description of what went on in Talmon vicinity is incorrect. Facts:
1. Yad Yair in not an "illegal outpost". It is a settlement point established legally 20 years ago and used as a base by IDF till 2006. After army has left, the IDF patrols were unable to prevent Arabs from Ramalla from burning down the sinagogue at the place and damaging it repeatedly in many other ways. After seen that the IDF is unable to fulfill its duties in guarding the Yad Yair a group of Jews indeed established a continuous presence guarding the place.
4 |
er,
Sunday Sep 14, 2008
2. There was no "construction material" at Yad Yair. That's another lie by Civil Administration real "thugs". What was removed by force (maybe "robbed" is more correct term) was the generator and the water tank, thus leaving the inhabitants of Yad Yair without basic means of leaving (it should be noted that even IEC and Mekorot are not allowed in general to stop supply of water and electricity to its debtors, exactly bacause of overiding humanitarian consideration).
3. Yad Yair is located on land owned by jews.
5 |
er,
Sunday Sep 14, 2008
4. In the evening demonstration near Horesh Yaron base there was no "rampage". I know because I was there. It was a protest, too low key considering the circumstances, against brutality by police and Civil Administration and some of the soldiers demonstrated several hours befor at Yad Yair site. The demontration continued less than two hours and despersed by itself one the regional commander arrived and promiced to correct the injustice.
6 |
Martin H. Leaf,
Sunday Sep 14, 2008
At least be honest with yourself. You know that no amount of concessions will placate the Islamic Terror beast. If surrender and retreat is the only option, then so be it, because that is what Israel is doing.
7 |
DMO,
Sunday Sep 14, 2008
"1 | Gil, Sunday Sep 14, 2008
Clear words from a man who knows about violence-and how to stop it."
Yeah? How is this working out for Sderot & Ashkelon?
8 |
usa, la,
Sunday Sep 14, 2008
There is a difference between Arabs and Jews when it comes to so called 'rioting" and the the response must therefore be diffrent. Since the soldiers were never in danger for their lives they had no right to shoot by any definition of civilized law. However, when Arabs are violent the soldiers lives are in imminenet danger and terfore shooting may be appropriate. To suggest shooting when the soldiers lives are not in danger is nothing but incitement. Mr. Sne should be reprimanded for incitement.
9 |
zach in Jlem,
Monday Sep 15, 2008
mk sneh, did you ever serve in Tzahal? we (soldiers) are attacked by palestinians using "non-lethal" weapons like rocks and bottles all the time, and are rarely allowed by military regulation to retaliate at all. moreover, while the settlers you speak of have committed horrible acts, they are a tiny minority, while most settlers are supportive and kind to the soldiers who protect them. youths that are acting up now are disillusioned by the failure of our government in the pullout and in levanon. lets give them faith in Tzahal and Israel, not fight amongst ourselves
10 |
yona loriner "tel aviv",
Monday Sep 15, 2008
do demonstrations really work? do u think polotitions really listen to them?
11 |
Jay Ticker, NYC,
Tuesday Sep 16, 2008
Mr Sneh, If Tzahal were allowed to do its job of protecting all Israelis (including those Jews who live in Yehuda and Shomron) there would be no such tensions. But Mr Sneh prefers to fool himself into believing that the problem is where Jews settle in our homeland, rather than admiting that reason there's no peace is that the Arabs refuse to accept our right to live anywhere in the Land at all.
12 |
Arnold, Tel Aviv,
Tuesday Sep 16, 2008
Dr. Sneh :
You will agree that the primary responsibility of the state is to protect its citizens & interest.
Since the State of Israel does not do this in a responsible manner, don't expect citizens to respect symbols of a state actively disowning them, doing them injustice and putting their lives in danger.
Rather than bemoaning the fact that some government property was confiscated in retaliation for the states confiscation, why not ensure that the state protects ALL its citizens first?
Start with Sderot, Gush Katif, Madhat Yusef etc.
Imagine getting their type of treatment yourself!
13 |
Chaim - Israel,
Tuesday Sep 16, 2008
A courageous government in Sneh's warped view is one which would oppress Jewish settlers responding to a murderous attack on a nine year old boy. Our wonderful settlers have been driven to such actions precisely because our current despicable government has long ago given up defending our people. Ask the Jews not only of Judea and Samaria but of Sderot and Ashkelon. Sneh's comments are anything but surprising, coming from someone who is deeply involved ijn inflicting the malignant, fraudulent "peace process" on Israel.
14 |
JfromC, Canada,
Monday Sep 22, 2008
To call your fellow citizens "thugs" shows your bias. Any citizen has the right to protection by the state and not harrasments because of their political leanings. There are only "settlers" in Israel, so singling out some because where they live and in what they believe in is a crime that this article happily supports.To even suggest that the state has the right to kick its citizens out of their homes to placate some kind of "world opinion" is also criminal and do not be suprised when those citizens threatened act against the state that thereatens them.It is their right to do so!
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