Settlers to mark Goldstein's massacre in Ibrahimi Mosque

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Israeli settlers in Hebron intend to rally Saturday, commemorating the 1994 massacre that saw a Jewish-American open fire on praying Palestinians, killing 29, the Israeli news site Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

"We come here every year to show the Left that suppressing the Right will be met with opposition," the news agency quoted one settler, who also edited a book about the killer, Baruch Goldstein.

Following the February massacre, Israeli forces decided to partition the mosque, and installed armed guards at both entrances, one for Jews, one for Muslims.

Since 1994, the heightened security at the mosque and the frequent access restrictions imposed on Palestinians entering to pray caused concern among citizens that Israeli forces and the settlers they guard in the city might take-over the building.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the place an "Israeli heritage site." The following Thursday, Palestinians mourned the death of the 29 worshipers in a solemn ceremony inside the mosque."

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=264529

[oberliner]

1. Why is it called the Ibrahimi mosque?

Where did that name come from?

[Douglas Carpenter]

2. well, that is its name - even the Jewish virtual library calls it that

The Ibrahimi Mosque/Cave of Machpela

The question of the Ibrahimi Mosque/Cave of Machpela is among the most sensitive issues in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The sanctuary is dedicated to Abraham, the patriarch of both Arabs and Jews. Deep-rooted in Jewish tradition, the history of the Cave of Machpela takes on a special importance, as the site is believed to be the first piece of land bought by Abraham in the Promised Land.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/tiph5.html

Maybe it is not your intent to sound anti-Muslim, but sometimes words by people can sound that way.

[oberliner]

6. I am just now understading that "Ibrahimi" is a reference to "Abraham" from the OT

I did not realize that the site is holy to Muslims for the same reason that it is holy to Jews (it being the alleged burial place of Abraham/Ibrahim). I did not understand how significant Abraham/Ibrahim was in Islam, but I've since become more informed.

Pardon my ignorance.

[stranger81]

3. Only very sick, sick individuals would turn out to commemorate mass murder. [n/t]

[shergald]

4. Well I supose that religious zealotry fits that sick catagory.

Odd, that the zealots only comprise maybe 5% of the Israeli population (n/t), yet they seem to wield power well in excess of their number. I would suppose that's because Netanyahu and the secular Likuds are willing to use them to their advantage, just as Netanyahu uses the Reverend Hagee nuts in this country.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

5. Where did you get the idea that their numbers were so low?

Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_legislative_election,_2009 - it's a table than should give anyone who still believes that Israel can be a partner for peace in the ME pause for thought.

UTJ got 4.4% of the vote, Shas got 8.5 - both of those are parties of religious zealots plain and simple. Likud, Labour and Kadima will each have a number of religious zealots among their voters - (I'd guess a narrow majority or large minority in the first case and smallish minorities in the second two, but that's pure guesswork without a shred of research to back it up). And the leaders of YB are weirdly close to being religious zealots for a committedly secular party, although not all/many their voters necessarily fit that mould. Not to mention that there are an awful lot of religous zealots (of a different flavour) among Israel's Arab population too.

Plus, Israel is highly reliant upon outside support, and foreign religious zealots are disproportionately active in that.

[shergald]

9. Well, I suppose your data trumps my vague estimation.

Actually, it was a recollection from someone's article, but there's no way to resurrect that memory and guarantee accuracy.

It is possible that the reference was to the percentage of zealots among the West Bank residents, and I think that's may be more close to the 5% referred to. Still. Thanks for your input.

[proteus_lives]

7. Just like how certain Palestinians celebrated the homecoming of terrorists...

Who smashed the skulls of children with rifle-butts.

[LeftishBrit]

12. Another example of far-RW religious/nationalist nuttery. Neither example justifies the other.

[cali]

8. sickening.

the settlers appear to me to simply a hate group.

[azurnoir]

10. so the settlers are celebrating their "heritage"

has the Netanyahu government released a statement about this?

[LeftishBrit]

11. Sick

These people are a real menace to society.