Israel 'worry' at settler attacks

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Israeli security officials are reported to have raised concerns about an increase in violence by Jewish settlers in the West Bank.

The Israeli Haaretz newspaper said officials had found an increase in incidents of settlers causing harm to Palestinians and to Israeli soldiers.

There were 429 incidents in the first half of 2008, against 551 in 2007.

There are frequent reports of settlers harassing Palestinians, with two attacks recently captured on video.

These have been widely broadcast and have brought the issue to greater prominence.

Haaretz said police, army and security services had also discussed allegations that some police and soldiers were deliberately ignoring violence by settlers against Palestinians, because they preferred not to get involved in difficult issues."

more



Behind closed doors, police admit 'turning a blind eye' to settler violence

<snip>

"Police, soldiers and military officers prefer to "turn a blind eye" instead of handling incidents in which settlers attack Palestinians in the West Bank.

In a meeting held by West Bank precinct operations officer Ronen Yefet last week, participants - including a Shin Bet security service representative and a senior police and army officers - reported a recent increase in the number of violent incidents involving settlers.

The Shin Bet representative stated in the discussion that settler violence has been "intentional and planned," adding that any Israel Defense Forces operations against settlers (eviction or demolitions) now comes with a violent "price tag."

Police officers at the meeting criticized the IDF for reportedly saying they do not want to act against settlers, and purported comments like "Leave me alone, don't get me mixed up with those guys."

In response, chief of the West Bank precinct patrol unit said police also prefer not to confront settlers. "Sometimes cops also avoid acting against Jews. There are also instances where police have looked the other way in order to say 'I didn't see anything.'"

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1011977.html

[atreides1]

1. A Well Learned Lesson

"In response, chief of the West Bank precinct patrol unit said police also prefer not to confront settlers. "Sometimes cops also avoid acting against Jews. There are also instances where police have looked the other way in order to say 'I didn't see anything.'"

Sound familiar?

[LeftishBrit]

2. I'm glad that at least the issue is now a matter of concern

Settler violence and lawlessness have going on far too long, and often reach an absolutely disgusting point! As for the police who turn a blind eye, they ought to be sacked for not doing their job! If you're in the police, you need to enforce the law, WHOEVER is trying to break it.

[Scurrilous]

3. This land isn’t Israel

Settlers who shun values that hold us together show that West Bank isn’t Israel

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3584656,00.html

<snip>

"Last week, we marked three years to the disengagement. An overwhelming majority of Israelis has an ambivalent attitude towards it to this day: On the one hand, feeling that the experiment has failed; on the other hand, glad that we are no longer in Gaza. But also ashamed of the disgraceful treatment of the evacuees; yet proud of the fact that it turned out that the State is still able to implement something once it decides to do it. There are other views in addition to that, depending on who you talk to.

Yet when it comes to one place, there is no indecision. In the land of the settlers, disengagement is a bleeding wound. It changed not only their relationship with the State, but also the relationship amongst themselves. The central leadership has crumbled, and the settlement movement today is led by wild groups of young people who are openly fed up with Israel and its institutions.

And this anger makes them lose it. Almost not a day goes by without an incident vis-à-vis the security forces. A settler wrests away a soldier’s rifle; a group of children yells “Nazis” at the reservists guarding them; IDF Central Command jeeps are blocked; a police cruiser’s tires are slashed.

On occasion, when a settler is arrested, they impose a siege on the police station and try to get their friend out by force, as if we were some kind of foreign colonialist regime in Zimbabwe or Congo. They are mad at the IDF, show contempt to the law, and refuse to accept the State’s authority. This is the case in the outpost of Migron, as well as the daily infiltrations to the evacuated settlement Homesh and to Joseph’s Tomb; this is the case in settlements such as Yitzhar and Tapuach.

And as always, they do the job for their rivals – because more than any spineless Yossi Beilin speech, they define the place they live in as "not Israel."

[Vegasaurus]

6. It would be best for Israel if these settlers disengaged completely

They do nothing for the state, which is a beautiful place to live, otherwise.

[Violet_Crumble]

7. Why should it be the settlers choice?

Wouldn't it be in the best interests of Israel to move them back to Israel? That way the police and troops don't have to turn blind eyes to settler violence...

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Scurrilous]

5. IDF temporarily bans 3 rightists from West Bank

Central Command issues restraining orders against three right-wing activists after intelligence indicates they intend on hindering upcoming Palestinian olive harvest

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3588433,00.html

<snip>

"IDF Central Command chief, Major-General Gadi Shamni, issued three restraining orders against settlers residing in the West Bank settlements of Yitzhar and Adi-Ad, banning them from the area pending the conclusion of the upcoming Palestinian olive harvest.

Early Wednesday morning, the men – all known right-wing activists – were presented with the warrants, banning them from the West Bank from several months.

According to defense establishment sources, the warrants were issued at this time despite the harvest being scheduled for October, since the army had accurate intelligence suggesting the men intend to hinder both the harvest and the preparations for it."