Red Cross Harbors Hamas Fugitives

I received the following from a friend of mine, Shmuel Sokol:

ICRC Harbors Hamas Fugitives
Samuel Sokol, Five Towns Jewish Times, July 22, 2010

The International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] stated Tuesday that it is knowingly sheltering three wanted fugitives from the Israeli police in its East Jerusalem headquarters. Ahmad Atoun, Khaled Abu Arafa, and Muhhamad Totach, all representatives of Hamas’ Change and Reform list in the Pales tinian Legislative Council [PLC], have camped out in the Sheikh Jarrah building since the June 30 rearrest of Hamas MP and former Al Qassam Brigades leader Muhhamad Abu Tir.

Dorothea Krimitsas, a spokeswoman for the ICRC, stated that the three men requested Red Cross “protection” from Israeli security forces and were informed that “they could remain on ICRC premises, but also that the ICRC could not prevent the Israeli authorities from taking action against them.”

All three are wanted by Israel for illegally residing in Jerusalem after the recent revocation of their blue residency cards. The cards were confiscated following their refusal to renounce their affiliation with Hamas. Without a repudiation of their membership, Israeli authorities warned, the four men face deportation. (Read more....)

I think it to be more telling, though, to read the ICRC's responses to Shmuel's questions,

Dear Mr. Sokol,

Here are my answers to your questions, which I copied below for the sake of clarity:

I would like the position of the Red Cross on this matter and to know if this is being done as a matter of policy.

On 1 July, the three persons (two PLC members and a former Minister for Jerusalem Affairs) asked the ICRC's delegation in Jerusalem to provide them with protection. They were told that they could remain on ICRC premises, but also that the ICRC could not prevent the Israeli authorities from taking action against them. (What's stopping Israel from "taking action?" Worries over bad PR?)

The ICRC has also been in contact with the Israeli authorities from the very beginning, asking them to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law:

- East Jerusalem is occupied territory, and the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem are considered protected persons under international humanitarian law (Article 4 of the Fourth Geneva Convention).

- Israel, as the occupying power, has an obligation to protect the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem and cannot lawfully undertake to forcibly transfer them from their homes. Under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, forcible transfers of protected persons are explicitly prohibited regardless of their motive.

Does the ICRC make a differentiation between the civilian and militant sides of Hamas and does it recognize Israel's categorization of all parts of the organization as terrorist entities?

It is not up to the ICRC, as a humanitarian organization, to confer a particular status on people or organizations or to recognize their legitimacy, neither does international humanitarian law. Under international humanitarian law – which is applicable in Israel and the occupied territories and is the law on which the ICRC's mandate and activities are based – everyone who is not a combattant (as defined in the Third Geneva Convention and in the First Additional Protocol), is a civilian.

In a recent study (A study? Study of what? Study with whom?), ICRC also interpreted (?!) that members of organized armed groups belonging to a party to the conflict lose protection against direct attack for the duration of their membership (i.e., for as long as they assume a continuous combat function). (http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/direct-participation-ihl-feature-020609) This principle of distinction is particularly relevant for the conduct of hostilities.

Has the ICRC been in touch with Israel in order to resolve this matter?
Yes. See my answer above.

I hope this information is helpful.

With best regards,


Dorothea Krimitsas

International Committee of the Red Cross
Media and Public Relations, Middle East
office +41 22 730 25 90, mobile +41 79 251 93 18
dkrimitsas@icrc.org

The ICRC - working to protect and assist people affected by involved in armed conflict and other situations of violence (...against Jews. Remember Terezinschadt?). Find out more: www.icrc.org

I think that Dorothea would like to get some additional feedback on this matter, don't you?


Additional related articles by Shmuel Sokol:
Hamas Four Renounce Their Party

Hamas Parliamentarians To Defy Israeli Ban

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Judeo-Christian Values?

7th Candle of Hanukkah 5770

Dear Arutz 7 (Israel National News) Broadcaster,

Recently, I heard a broadcast of yours. It included an excellent interview, in which you were able to keep your guest focused and have him share a great deal of information in a relatively short period of time.

In the second segment of your show, there was another interesting interview. Yet, something odd caught my attention. You used the expression “Judeo-Christian values,” even though such values do not exist. Jewish values are based on Torah (that includes Oral Torah) and halachah (Jewish Law), items which Christians do not possess. Certainly I would agree that Jews and Christians share a few similarities. But, I could also say the same, if not more so, about Muslims. So, why not talk about Judeo-Islamic values?

No, the concept to which you were referring is an illusion, one which has developed over time during our in exile in the West, due to our vulnerability and desperately trying to survive both physically and spiritually in Galuth (diasporah) coupled with the poisonous influence of the Christians surrounding us.

So, why is it that you were using such an oxymoron of a term?

Well, I have come up with a few possible answers:

1. You really do believe in the existence of this concept, and have yet to discard this particular qelipah (counter-spiritual shell).

2. You have a very short memory, and have forgotten the Christian-based, anti-Semitism which encouraged Jews to seek out our own Homeland and culture, in the first place, OR has forced them further into the deep trenches of assimilation and sniveling co-dependence on the goyim.

3. Even though you are religious, and working for the sake of many important Torah-based endeavors, you have still fallen into the trap of today's version of Hellenism, the belief that some or all Western sensibilities are inherently compatible with Torah. (I recommend you take a serious look at this during this holiday of Hanukkah.)

4. You have received a directive from your management that you use this expression in your broadcasts in order to exploit attract Christian dollars to your radio station.

Considering the introduction to your show, which included instructions to listeners as to how to “support” the station financially, I would say it is the last of the four. (Although I would not rule out option number three so quickly either.)

In line with said instructions, when potential contributers are contacted, some of their background information is, no doubt, revealed. You are able to get a general idea as to whom your listeners are, from where they hail, and which deities they worship, thus providing your station with sufficient feedback as how best to flatter placate them.

Certainly, you must also be able to obtain relatively precise information as to how much of Arutz 7's funding comes from Christians (...and thus how much of a conflict of interest Arutz 7 may appear to have).

I would guess that your managers have actually rationalized that it is better to take money from ovdei avodah zarah (practicioners of foreign worship; Mishnah Torah, Hil. Avodah Zarah 9:4 ), for the greater good of continuing your broadcasts to, as well as on behalf of, Religious Zionists and residents of Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria).

Now that we Jews are able to resettle our promised Homeland, we have no excuse but let go of our co-dependence on the goyim, and change strategies.

The doors to Eretz Yisra'el have been opened for Jews, but seeing the miracles done for us, and the prophesies being fulfilled, the Christians are also knocking on the door, begging, borrowing, and stealing their ways in.

They are developing their own strategies to obtain residency and even citizenship. Some send their children to “volunteer” in the IDF. Some set up “charitable” foundations, with the intention of "helping" us. Some even do so with the heksher of rabbis. There are Christians "helping" us in Ari'el, Itamar, Har Brachah, and Qedumim, among others. "Helping" us do what, I would like to know. And why do we need their help? I would like to know that as well.

How are any of these sneaky strategies to steal our inheritence, to get a foothold on our Holy Land, to pollute our Holy Land by spreading the worship of their false deity, and stealing our children's souls, in the least bit related to “Jewish values?”

So-called Christian Zionist, or Christian "Friends of Israel" are, at the very least, passive missionaries, and the very worst, better liars than active missionaries.

How will Arutz 7 report the sneaky, yet not so secret plans, of the Likud Party, and possibly some within the Jewish Agency (confirmation needed) itself to bring Christians to settle in Israel.

How will your station's acceptance of Christian funds influence your reporting? Will you just ignore it?

And just two more questions, please:

1. How much [or how little] does Rabbi Zalman Melamed know of your station's use
of the term "Judeo-Christian Values?"

2. How much [or how little] does
Rabbi Zalman Melamed know of your station's acceptance of Christian money?

They, too, believe they are doing this for the greater good,...even though we Jews “do not yet realize it.”

But, what's the harm in taking their money?

Simple. You're letting them get a foot in the door, you are taking their "we're your friends" bait, hook, line, and sinker, and thus you are aiding and abetting Esau (Christians/U. S./UN/EU/the West - who truly hates Ya'aqov). These liars may lie differently than Yishma'el (Arabs/Muslims) but they still lie. And, you are truly a co-dependent freier (sucker), if you think Esau will ever really be our friend. He wants his birthright back; he wants his b'rachoth back (See B'reishith 25 & 27).

It is forbidden to allow them to gain any foothold on our Land (Mishnah Torah, Hil. Avodah Zarah 10).

Esau is the pig, throwing out its forelegs to show you its split hooves; he is the pig moving its jaw up and down, pretending to chew his cud. He cries out, "Look at me! I'm kosher!" Yet, he's as treif as they come!

Since 1400's Spain (at least), we have attempted to pacify, reach out to, and assimilate amongst Christians to some degree or another, in order to reassure them that we are no threat to them, and even “just like them,” believing this to be our only strategy for survival while in Western Galuth. Aligning ourselves with them against Yishma'el is just today's version of this.

This strategy has never worked.

“Insanity is repeating the same thing over again, expecting different results.” -Albert Einstein

May your managers receive a complete speedy recovery from this insanity.

There are no such things as "Judeo-Christian Values."

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Beware Of Governments Bearing Gifts: Israeli GPO To Begin Issuing Press Credentials To Bloggers

Erev Rosh HaShanah 5770

Tomer Devorah alerted me to the following:

Media Credentials for Top Israeli Bloggers

Erev Rosh HaShanah 5770/September 18, 2009, 10:49 AM

(IsraelNN.com) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's office will acknowledge the growing power of bloggers by providing writers of the most popular blogs with media credentials, according to Maariv. The credentials would allow the bloggers to enter news conferences and similar events.

The initiative was first revealed at the Second International Jewish Bloggers Convention this week by Ron Dermer of the Prime Minister's Office, who said it will take some time to implement the program. PMO officials will first spend months investigating various blogs and determining which of Israel's popular bloggers should be offered credentials.

Full story

As I understand it, this parashah was initiated by Jameel Rasheed @ The Muqata blog, when he made a public request for press credentials at the aforementioned convention:

"...Therefore, the logical question I asked was if the Israeli government wants our help to "Defend Israel" through the JBlogosphere (and we gladly help), why can't we get [Government Press Office] GPO Press Credentials? I was surprised that so many people applauded the question. Dermer promised he would take care of it. To help him with his promise -- if you are a serious blogger, drop me an email and I'll put together a request list to him....."

The way I see it, the key word in the above news report is "investigating." Call it K'far Tapu'ah Paranoia, if you must. I choose to call it necessary suspicion of the government.

I have no problem with Jameel's request. If he receives press credentials, then more power to him. However, I believe we must keep this policy in perspective.

The Erev Rav controlled, Israeli government is running scared. The ratio of Haredim in the Israeli population continues to increase, as is that of religious Jews, in general. The majority of second-graders who started school this year are religious. The percentage of officers in the IDF who identify as religious is the greatest it has ever been, and continues to increase each year.

Yet, every time the Torah world attempts to assert its influence, the Israeli Supreme Court immediately shoots it down.

The government knows that it's only a matter of time before they will no longer be able to keep up the resistance.

Eventually they will have no choice but to take increasingly drastic measures, in a futile attempt to prevent the inevitable.

The Erev Rav controls the mainstream Israeli media. The center-right Jerusalem Post is sometimes critical of the government, but does sufficient bashing of Haredim and settlers to keep it off its back.

The last thing the Israeli government needs is a set of independent critics with access to government officials. They know what we have in mind, and they don't like it one bit.

If granted access to press conferences and other assorted events, we will do the one thing of which the Israeli goverment is terrified.

We will be asking questions, and not just any questions, but the questions they don't want to be asked, let alone answer in public. We will be asking the questions to which they do not even know the answers, causing them great public embarrassment. We will be asking "them" to justify their actions. We will be putting "them" under the microscope, and adding the information we gather to our posts publicizing the truth to Jews outside of Israel, keeping them informed as to what is really taking place here.

There is no question that not just any blogger will be granted press credentials. Oh sure, there may be one token they will be able to brand as a nut job in an attempt to discredit other bloggers they do not like. But don't expect any great revelations in freedom for the press with this new policy. No, the powers that be will be using this as an opportunity to "investigate" us.

Fellow blogger Nati of Mystical Paths has already been "visited" by the Shabba"k (General Security Service AKA: "Secret Police") over his writings.

There was a time when I figured that the powers that be did not take English speaking blogs seriously. We're just a bunch of ideological nuts,...regardless of ideological flavor.

Well, there is no doubt that "they" know we're on the map. Whether "they" think we are a threat to them, only time will tell. What we do know is that instead of flying under the radar, the radar will, at least periodically, be focused on us.

Beware of governments bearing gifts.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Umm al-Fahm March: Typical Leftist Double Standards

28 Adar 5769

My sources involved with Tuesday's anticipated march into the Arab city of Umm al-Fahm, have absolutely no clue as to what will, or will not, end up happening. The march is expected to be led by MK Micha'el Ben-Ari (National Union).

Activist and assistant to Micha'el Ben-Ari, Itamar Ben-Gvir has long suggested that the march, originally planned to take place months ago, was to demonstrate the double standards amongst government officials. At the time, he was anticipating that they marchers would not being allowed into the city.

A limit of one hundred was set as the maximum number of marchers which will be allowed to participate. Spaces on the list should already have been reserved.

For my part, I would like to suggest that one or more of the following four case scenarios will occur:

1. An excuse will be found by police to postpone the march,...yet again.

2. Security will not be sufficient, so that any number of "accidents" will occur causing harm to the Jewish participants.

3. Arab residents will be set up to be wounded in one way or another, so that Jews can be blamed, and be further demonized by the news media.

4. Petty financial claims will be made by police and/or the City of Umm al-Fahm against the organizers of the march and/or the participants.

YNET reports on the increasing tension of the situation.

Umm al-Fahm: 'Marzel, tomorrow we'll dig your grave'
Sharon Roffe-Ofir, 27 Adar 5769/March 23, 2009

Residents of Arab city plan series of protests against rightist rally set for Tuesday; Balad MK Zahalka warns against use of weapons, says it could lead to 'major disaster.' Police on high alert, deploy 2,500 officers to maintain public order

My response is this:

The left and Arabs can march through Hevron, come en masse, threatening to smash through the gates of Beth-El and Givath Asaf.

"Israeli" Arabs travel freely into Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and have won the "right" to bypass qibbutz acceptance committees and live in Qibbutz Qatzir.

But Jews can't enter Um Al Fahm. ....Typical leftist double standards

Stay tuned. I hope to provide you with links to first-hand reports later on Tuesday.

*********

Click here for "Umm al-Fahm March Update."

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Israeli Election Ploy

11 Tevet 5769

By now, most in Israel have caught on to the election ploy that is the current Israeli Defense Forces' [IDF] action in Azza. Necessary and proper as this action is, there is no doubt that it is taking place now, and not three months ago, nor three years ago, due to our proximity to the Israeli national elections to be held on 16 Shevat/February 10.

Fortunately, some Jews in the U. S., like Debbie Schlussel, are also on the ball, and can see through the veil of this war.

I was in Tel Aviv yesterday, and the Kadima and Labor posters were up in force, starting sparsely on the border of the Greater Tel Aviv area (Petah Tiqwah), then all over the place once withing Tel Aviv and suburbs, save for the religious, and mostly Haredi city of B'nei Braq whose votes will undoubtedly go to Shas and United Torah Judaism [UTJ], with some going to the Nationl Union and Likud.

Everywhere there was a Tzippi Livni (Kadima) billboard, an Ehud Baraq (Labor) one was right next to it,...almost as if they were running mates.

In many ways, the Israeli news media has been portraying Foreign Minister Livni as the defacto prime minister,...with very little mention of standing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. And, now all of a sudden it is politically-correct to root for the IDF against the Arabs. That is because it is Kadima and Labor doing the attacking,...and trying to win an election.

Needless to say there are no such posters, let alone billboards in the Shomron (Samaria), almost all of which would be on the chopping blocks if a Kadima/Labor/Mere"tz goverment had anything to say about it. Even Kadima MK Otniel Schneller knows better than to expect any votes to come from his town in the Binyamin Area, Ma'aleh Mikhmas.

There may be some Kadima/Labor efforts in Yehudah (Judea), where two large chunks are said to be included within final status borders in any agreement between Israel and the Arabs. After all, 12% of the City of Efrat voted for Labor, back in 1999.

According to the latest polls, Binyamin Netanyahu (Kadima) could still create a right of center/right wing coalition government of 61, probably too weak for his taste. He may join with Kadima in a unity government. Some time ago, Likud candidate Dan Meridor was talking of trying to convince Netanyahu to make the bold move of giving up the Golan Heights. Many want to know why Meridor is on the Likud list at all. No doubt it is to get his supporters' votes.

It seems that Meridor has been silenced,...at least for the time being. Talk of giving up the Golan will lose votes for the Likud to other farther right-wing parties, threatening the Likud's expected plurality.

Projected seats for Labor have jumped from 8 to 15. Kadima and Likud are still neck and neck. The ploy seems to be working.

I am not optimistic.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

What Took 'Em So Long?

Zoth Hanukkah 5769

Everyone else is jabbering on about the attacks in Azza, while I sit here in front of my computer screen in an area proving to be one of the safest places to be in Israel, b'il eyin hara: Efraim (Central Samaria), safe from rockets from Azza and Lebanon, safe from bomb attacks in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv,...for now.

Funny how people are also asking ME if I am scared to live where I do, let alone travel around by tremp, and unarmed.

Don't worry, the gub'ment has plans for us, too. Then I'll start to get worried, and have to snap out of my complacency.

In the meantime, I'll also provide my 10ag on the current goings-on in Azza.

What I want to know is what took 'em so long to bomb Azza?

Sure. They've gone in beforehand, but it was always a half-ass job, going only into the limited areas allowed by big brother and sister George and Condi, followed by the requisite, quick retreat. OR it was those lovely targeted assassinations, carefully avoiding "innocent civilians" (Central Samaria), known to every other country as "collateral damage."

There are a few theories as to what took 'em so long....

1. Election Ploy
This will get votes for Livni (Kadima), and for Baraq (Labor), showing the center that even though they want to continue "piece" negotiations with the Arabs, they can be tough like Netanyahu (Likud) says he will be, and not as wishy-washy like Olmert (Kadima). They can spin the incessant threats to strike Azza, and taking so damn long to do so, as a clever strategy, taking the Arabs by surprise.

Hey, even I'm beginning to believe that Ehud Baraq isn't such a buffoon after all. Tzippy Livni was actually pretty effective in her interview on Fox & Friends. I mean her Godless/Torahless approach is completely wrong, of course, but she certainly demonstrated that she knew her audience. Her biggest mistake was thinking that making a case to the American public was in the least bit important. (...and too bad they kept calling her "Zippy.")

Did I say that there were a few theories? Well, actually, I can only think of two.

But you're not gonna like this last one...

2. Fear
The wealthy, Ashkinazi powers that be were not in such denial of the Arab threat after all. The rockets did not actually have to reach Tel-Aviv before they were able to snap out of it. They knew that it was only a matter of time before the rockets reached Ashdod, you know, where there are actually some of those "nice" neighborhoods. After all they had reached Qiriyath Gath. Even though no one cares about Qiriyath Gath, it was an indicator of just how close the rockets were getting to the Ashkinazi, leftist headquarters of North Tel-Aviv. (See the map below to see just how close.)

No one cares about Ashqelon either. But the rockets inching closer to the power station there was problematic to the powers that be. Losing one-third of the country's power, due to lack of inaction, will lose you votes, even from "piece" negotiation-pushing Leftists, addicted to electrical appliances.

Translation into American terms: Rich white people were going to start getting killed.

I told you, you weren't going to like it.

(Click the map to enlarge it)

Red dots indicate locations having been hit from the south or north. Half red indicates having been hit on the outskirts of the city. Netanyah's outskirts were hit, but publicity over this was hushed up.

Ashqelon, Qiriyath Gath, and S'deroth are indicated by red dots , but not labeled. Be'er Sheva has not been hit,...yet.

The map demonstrates how the rockets have been creeping closer to Tel-Aviv as well as to Ben-Gurion International Airport.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Peace House Eviction Protests - From Jerusalem Through The Shomron

8 Kislev 5769

Here is a recounting of some of the protests occurring this evening in response to the surprise and very violent eviction of Jews from Beth HaShalom (Peace House) in Hevron.

Events personally witnessed by this blogger are in bold; events reported in are in italics.

My 10 agaroth (commentary) follows.

Afternoon - Arab satellite dishes and water heaters were broken. Even laundry put out to dry was set on fire in Hevron.

4:00 PM - Reports of road blockages and attacks on Arab cars at the top of the Ma'aleh Levonah road. Northbound Arab traffic had been diverted to this parallel route from Route 60 to avoid the road blockage at the Shiloh Junction (See below). The Arab vehicles escaping damage were few to none. Protests then moved to the junction of the winding road to Ma'aleh Levonah with Route 60. The protests reportedly included setting various things on fire.

4:50 PM - Traveling through Jerusalem in order to leave through the northeastern neighborhood of Pisgath Ze'ev, we passed through the Bar-Ilan Junction, where traffic seemed usual for a Jerusalem Thursday.

5:05 PM - Leaving Jerusalem through Hizmah, traffic was almost at a stand-still until Adam, where several police officers and Israeli Defense Forces [IDF] were stationed to monitor incoming and outgoing vehicles. (Jews appearing "too" religious, beware!)

5:30 PM - At Assaf ("T") Junction, there were maybe 20 Jews. No action. They seemed to be semi-corralled in by IDF. Further up the road, the street was lined with teens, blocking the road to Arab traffic, with bodies and with large stones. There were a few scuffles between the youths and the IDF.

5:40 PM - At the entrance to the [notoriously mamlachti] town of Ofra... absolutely no sign of any activity. (Surprised?)

5:54 PM - As we approached Shiloh Junction, Arabs were backed up, and turning back, knowing that the good Jews of Shiloh would not allow them through.

At the junction, Jews were being allowed through. Cars blocking the various routes in and out of the junction were moved immediately upon seeing our bus coming through. There weren't just kids. There were teachers and farmers, young couples and grandparents. (Kol HaKavod to Shiloh Area residents!)

6:20 PM - At the entrance to the [notoriously mamlachti] town of Eli... absolutely no sign of any activity. (Surprised? Well, in all fairness to Ofra and Eli, it is certainly possible that there was some sort of strategy implemented, leaving some points on the main road through the Shomron, Route 60 jammed, and others clear. Quite frankly, though, I doubt it.)

6:40 PM - At the Rehelim Junction, a group of Jews were standing on the western side of Route 60, accompanied by IDF. A few tires were burning in the middle of the street.

6:45 PM - The Tapu'ah Junction appeared to be clear of protest activity.

8:45 PM - Reports of road blockages returning to Tapu'ah Junction have come in. The movable plastic dividers were apparently been piled up in the middle of the kikar (round-about), next to the Hanukkiyah, and lit on fire. Yama"m (anti-terrorist police) arrived on the scene, in fits of high drama, to extinguish the make-shift plastic bonfire.

(Click Map To Enlarge)

The map is not even close to scale. It is only here to clarify events by providing town and road locations. Cities and towns currently under Arab control are in italics. The direction "up" is north. Tel-Aviv can be reached by driving in a straight line westward from Tapu'ah; the opposite direction will take you to the Jordan Valley.

10 ag. (Commentary):
I have already gotten into several fights today regarding the "settler" response to the eviction of Beth HaShalom. I have only two things to say:

1. Beth HaShalom is a laboratory. The powers that be are gathering information which they believe will be critical in their development of strategies for the next, and the next, and the next evictions.

2. The good Jews of Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria) are showing the government that there will be consequences when it acts in such a fashion. There's nothing much to read into here, save for any "rabbis'" calls for restraint (was there any?). You can have a field day, and read into that as much as you'd like.

Who will be next?

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Curiouser And Curiouser...

24 Sivan 5768

A week ago, police arrived to cause problems [yet again] in the town of Yitzhar, which lies just east of the ancient city of Shchem. Unfortunately, some of you actually know this city by its fake name of Nablus, a bastardization of the Roman "Neopolis."

The police visit resulted in nine arrests and one hospitalization of Yitzhar residents. The leftist, State (yes, this is redundant, I know) news media spent the entire segment presenting the police perspective of what had occurred, demonizing the settlers. No surprises here.

However, there appears to be a connection to the alleged firing of a Qassam rocket by a Jew toward an Arab target.

When I heard about this incident, the first question I asked was, "Did they determine the trajectory of the rocket?" It could easily have been a failed attempt by an Arab, now trying to cover up his attempt [or his failure, or both] by lying and blaming Jews. It would not be the first time.

So what really happened in Yitzhar over the last couple of weeks? The following is a report from my source, a resident of one the hills adjacent to Yitzhar:

Last week at 4:30 in the morning a mob of forces from the riot police, plain clothesmen, and Shabba"k (General Security Service), came to Yitzhar and did a raid over the town on the claim that someone from the town fired a rocket into the air. They searched thoroughly for two hours with dogs for explosive material, but found nothing. Then they arrested Rabbi Itzik Shapira and the Ravsha"tz (town security chief) for investigation. No results in the end.

At 7:30 AM, they made their way to the main entrance of the town to leave, and then suddenly they went in the direction of the hills,...in order to cause destruction. They caught us by surprise and succeeded in destroying two structures.

The question I should have asked was, "Did anyone actually see any evidence of a rocket?"

My guess that there may very well have been a rocket, fired by whom, I do not know. What I am sure about is that Yitzhar serves as one of the government's "Expulsion Laboratories," testing various ways to aggravate the residents and then observe their reactions.

If the government is able to destroy Yitzhar (May God forbid!), then many of the residents of the less ideological towns in Efraim and West Mennashe (Samaria) may just pick up and go quietly. That seems to be the government's working hypothesis, at any rate.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Ahmed's Bunker

Erev Shabbat Beha'alothekha 5768

YNET, the internet site for the Israeli and leftist Yediot Aharanot newspaper, reports that Child's poem entitled 'Ahmed's Bunker' deemed racist.

The YNET translation of the poem reads as follows:

Ahmed's bunker has surprises galore: Grenades, rifles are hung on the wall. Ahmed is planning another bomb!

What a bunker Ahmed has, who causes daily harm.

Ahmed knows how to make a bomb. Ahmed is Ahmed, that's who he is, so don't forget to be careful of him.

We get blasted while they have a blast!

Ahmed and his friends could be wealthy and sunny, if only they wouldn't buy rockets with all their money.

So, are there any of you out there who still believe in the myth that there is free speech in Israel?

If anyone knows the identity of this boy and his parents, please let me know. I believe we need to write letters of encouragement to them, and let them know that not everyone agrees with the leftist controlled, so-called "mainstream" Israeli news media.

I would like to encourage you to send [not spam] this poem to friends, to make sure that they know that it represents the real sentiments of a real Israeli child, writing for a school project, something which many of our children in the U. S. and other countries are doing as I write this.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth