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Israeli forces brutalize protesters-
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Comments
1
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Bill Narvey
said:
I am as much troubled as I am perplexed at Olmert's decision to demolish 9 homes in Amona, even if it was under the authority of a court order, knowing the resistance he would face and the great risk of harm that would be suffered by the protestors.
The report says more than 300 protesters were treated in makeshift first aid tents and at least 70 were evacuated to Jerusalem hospitals with moderate-to-serious injuries.
Knowing that stiff resistance would be met and that harm could be caused to many Israeli citizens, was just one very excellent reason to ignore the court order and instead find a peaceful political solution.
Hamas is still basking in the glow of its win. Hamas sees every past concession by Israel as being further proof of the rightness of its goals and terrorist agenda. Hamas would see that actions by Israel against its own people, such as this in Amona as a sign of Israel's growing weakness.
What possessed Olmert to give Hamas yet another reason to celebrate?
It appears Israel is prepared to take action against its own who build houses without a proper building permit but will do nothing about Palestinians in Jerusalem who have, it has been reported, built about 3,500 buildings without proper permits.
This brutal action by the Israeli government against its own citizens seems like it virtually guarantees Olmert and Kadima have set themselves up to lose a great deal of political capital and credibility by this action.
What possessed Olmert to act as he did and to act now now instead of later if such opportune later time ever would come, is mind boggling?
This should be an opportune time for all Israelis to undergo a lot of soul searching to better know what they want and need and to come together behind leaders who are not just strong but wise as well and leaders who know how to lead.
Posted by: Bill Narvey on February 1, 2006 06:31 PM
2
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daniel
said:
This time we see eye to eye on this terrible travesty.
Posted by: daniel on February 1, 2006 07:06 PM
3
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Fern Sidman
said:
The struggle between “right wing” protestors in Amona and the Israeli army and police represents more than a lone struggle to retain a settlement in Judea and Samaria. This struggle is for the heart and soul of Eretz Yisroel because this forced evacuation could potentially be the beginning of the end of a Jewish presence in the liberated lands of 1967. This struggle represents the forces of holiness against the forces of the profane. This struggle represents those who believe and cling to the G-d of Israel and His Holy Torah and those who believe in the forces of secularization and liberalism. This struggle represents the forces of righteousness against the forces of destruction. We must raise our collective voices in protest over the forced evacuation of Jews from G-d given Jewish land. We must cry out in agony and anguish over the handing over of our land to the Arab enemy. We must support those who are courageously protesting this evacuation and risking arrest and imprisonment. These “right-wing” protestors are heroes of the Jewish people. It is our obligation to speak out against this travest of justice. It is our obligation to remain strong and cleave to the G-d of Israel. It is our obligation to pray and extend all of our support to those protesting in Amona and elsewhere. Let us remember the word of the sweet singer of Israel, King David who said: “Place confidence in G-d, strengthen yourself, and He will give you courage. And place confidence in G-d.” (Psalm 27)
Posted by: Fern Sidman on February 1, 2006 08:21 PM
4
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Cy
said:
These traitors got what they had coming. For years I been sickened by the traitors on the left and now my heart breaks to see my old friends on the right decend into to madness as they no longer accept the legitmacy of the State Of Israel. The State needs to crackdown on those in the anti-Israel right as there can be zero tolerance for treason during a time of war. I am sickened by my old freinds who have joined in with the Arabs in planning the death of the State of Israel. This turn of events pains me more than anything I can remember. May G-d have mercy on us all.
Posted by: Cy on February 1, 2006 10:53 PM
5
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Bill Narvey
said:
Fern Sidman,
It is overly simplistic and unrealistic to describe the clash between the protestors supporting the Amona residents and the GOI as the classic battle between good and evil.
Even if I supported the GOI in this move and I am not sure which side I am on because I do not believe I have enough facts to make an informed assessment, I am certain that the GOI did itself and Israel a great disservice nationally and internationally by pressing now to enforce the court order to demolish the 9 Amona homes.
Knowing the kind of resistance that was mounting, the GOI ought to have first tried to negotiate a politically driven settlement of the issue or failing that to delay action to see whether circumstances changed to make such action more supportable, practical and palatable for Israelis and the world that was looking on.
To Cy:
Your using the word traitor and treason is rather extreme as is your saying your old friends have joined the Arabs to bring about the death of Israel.
It would be easier to understand your points if you made clear what you were saying and why.
Posted by: Bill Narvey on February 4, 2006 12:38 PM
Israeli forces brutalize protesters-
Bulldozing of Jewish homes seen as part of larger withdrawal
From WorldNetDaily:
"Horse-mounted police, water cannons and specially trained riot officers faced off against hundreds of protesters who massed in Amona in hopes of halting the demolitions. Israeli television broadcast live footage of demonstrators, including women and children, being dragged and beaten by soldiers. Teenagers with bloody noses and head wounds were seen being removed from the scene. Police were shown using batons and gas canisters to clear the area of demonstrators.
More than 300 protesters were treated in makeshift first aid tents. At least 70 were evacuated to Jerusalem hospitals with moderate-to-serious injuries."
By Aaron Klein
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
Israel forces clash with Jewish settlers in the West Bank (courtesy: Israel National News)
JERUSALEM – Violent clashes broke out today between Israeli forces and Jewish demonstrators protesting the demolition of nine homes in a small West Bank outpost, with reports of excessive use of force against the protesters, many of whom were severely injured.
Analysts here view the West Bank home destructions as part of a larger campaign to withdraw from the area.
More than 1,500 Israeli Defense Force soldiers and Israeli police officers were called up to demolish the nine homes in the northern West Bank hilltop town of Amona after the court system ruled the houses were constructed without a permit. The government said the homes could be rebuilt at a later date in the same community if the construction is coordinated with the Ministry of Defense.
Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the demolitions be carried out immediately and instructed the military to use "all force necessary."
Horse-mounted police, water cannons and specially trained riot officers faced off against hundreds of protesters who massed in Amona in hopes of halting the demolitions. Israeli television broadcast live footage of demonstrators, including women and children, being dragged and beaten by soldiers. Teenagers with bloody noses and head wounds were seen being removed from the scene. Police were shown using batons and gas canisters to clear the area of demonstrators.
Knesset Member Effie Eitam evacuated after suffering head injury in clash with Israeli forces (courtesy: Israel National News)
More than 300 protesters were treated in makeshift first aid tents. At least 70 were evacuated to Jerusalem hospitals with moderate-to-serious injuries.
Three Israeli nationalist lawmakers, Effie Eitam, Benny Elon and Aryeh Eldad were seriously wounded in the clashes. Eitam suffered a head injury after being pushed by soldiers. He was undergoing neurological tests in Jerusalem. Elon was injured after reportedly being pushed off a bulldozer by troops. Eldad sustained an arm fracture after being shoved to the ground by police.
Dozens of police also were wounded in the clashes. There were reports of some protesters throwing stones and paint at security forces. Many demonstrators resisted removal from the area and kicked and squirmed while being carried away. More than 80 protesters were arrested.
After three hours of clashes, the soldiers cleared the area of protesters and razed the nine homes.
Large rallies then broke out at the entrances to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to protest the reported extreme violence used by the soldiers. Thousands of police were deployed to ensure protesters did not block major highways and roads.
The Rabbis Settlement Council said in a statement: "We are shocked from the cruel and horrific abuse perpetrated by Israeli police upon Jews ... 37,000 demolition orders are ready to be executed, and of all of them, the Supreme Court and the police chose precisely this one in Amona, with the goal of destroying the religious-Zionist public."
Some Israeli commentators have been questioning the timing of the demolition orders, which come as Olmert begins to launch his Kadima Party's political campaign after official installation last month as party chairman. The commentators say Olmert will need to demonstrate he is capable of carrying out the policies of Kadima in absence of its founder, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who remains comatose in a Jerusalem hospital following a severe stroke.
Many Kadima members have stated the new party is looking to change Israel's borders.
Olmert has expressed approval of West Bank withdrawals and has made statements to reporters about the possibility of vacating certain peripheral areas of Jerusalem.
Also Olmert, who previously served as mayor of Jerusalem, was the first Sharon deputy to go public with the Gaza-withdrawal plan.
Yishai Fleischer, a host from Israel National Radio present at today's Amona home demolitions, told WND: "This was for the cameras. There was no reason Olmert couldn't have settled this peacefully. Instead he sent the army to create a show to demonstrate to the Israeli public and the international community he is not afraid to confront Jewish residents in the area and go through with a large withdrawal. He turned a case of nine homes in a remote community into a war against the West Bank."
The West Bank is considered landlocked territory not officially recognized as part of any country. Israel calls the land "disputed." The United Nations claims the West Bank is "occupied" by Israel, which maintains overall control of most of the area while the Palestinian Authority has jurisdiction in about 40 percent. The Palestinians claim a population of roughly 2.4 million, but new demographic studies show the numbers likely are inflated. The actual Palestinian population could be up to 1 million less.
The territory remained under Jordanian rule from 1948 until Israel captured the West Bank in 1967 after Jordan's King Hussein ignored Israeli pleas for his country to stay out of the Six Day War. Most countries rejected Jordan's initial claim on the area, which it formally renounced in 1988.
The West Bank borders most of Israel's major cities, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Military strategists long have estimated Israel must maintain the West Bank to defend its borders from any ground invasion.
Many villages in the West Bank, which Israelis commonly refer to as the "biblical heartland," are mentioned throughout the Old Testament.
The Book of Genesis says Abraham entered Israel at Shechem (Nablus) and received God's promise of land for his offspring. He later was buried in Hebron.
The nearby town of Beit El, anciently called Bethel meaning "house of God," is where Scripture says the patriarch Jacob slept on a stone pillow and dreamed of angels ascending and descending a stairway to heaven. In that dream, God spoke directly to Jacob and reaffirmed the promise of territory.
And in Exodus, the holy tabernacle rested in Shilo, believed to be the first area the ancient Israelites settled after fleeing Egypt.
Posted by IceViking at February 1, 2006 05:43 PM