The police have begun violently evacuating the Peace House.
The Prosecutors office just closed one of the files against Olmert ("for lack of evidence").
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Will Injustice be served on Shabbat?
(picture added by Jameel...from today's Yediot Achronot, page 3)Olmert began his term with "Convergence". He would expel Jews left and right from Judea and Samaria and "converge" them all elsewhere, today he said he would dump us all in the Negev.
But Olmert's convergence isn't what is really going on these days.
The Labor party is all but dead and his real plan is to pull a Meimad. All Barak touches he destroys with his ego and incompetence. You can get away with that unseen in the army, but in politics you can also get away with it, but everyone sees it.
He probably plans to merge Labor into Kadima.
Why?
Because he wants to continue to be Defense Minister, a position he has proven to be worse at than Amir Peretz.
The merging of Labor into Kadima is the first convergence.
The second convergence is the merging of Kadima/Labor into the Likud.
Netanyahu seems to be saying that he wants a National Unity Government. That only means he brings Kadima into his government (he's already bringing back some of their members to his list).
So you vote Likud, and we're back again with the same losers we just tried to kick out.
But that isn't the point of this post.
The point is that certain elements in the army and police have been trying to find a way out of expelling the owners and residents of the Peace House. But Barak has made it clear that that won't be happening, and if he has his way, injustice will be served.
Barak can't win against Hamas, Iran, Fatah or Hizbollah, so he must have at least one victory before elections to prove he is qualified to be Defense Minister, and if the only enemy he can fight and perhaps win against are Jewish teenagers in a house - so be it. A medal is a medal, and in the army no one else actually knows what your missions actually were to get you all those decorations on your chest.
To him the lessons must be clear.
If they are going to have any chance at this expulsion and him remaining Defense Minister he must do it in a way where the rest of the country (particularly the settlers) won't be getting in the way.
He will probably choose to publicly desecrate the Shabbat (alongside desecrating Truth and Justice) and have the expulsion when supporters from all over the country won't be able to hear of and arrive to fight his evil act.
We really need a true electoral reform to get rid of all these players that need to be once and for all kicked out of politics.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Hilltop Youth
I want to write about the so-called “Hilltop Youth” (as they are called). The Peace House is full of them as they converge onto the site for the expected showdown.
The media likes to portray them rather monolithically, as wild kids, disrespecting all authority (including the Rabbis), as weeds and dangers to society (sort of like they should portray Left-wing anarchists, but never do). As kids living outside of any societal framework, just wandering the fields. One leftist MK recently proposed they all be gathered up and put into reeducation centers.
Since the Gush Katif expulsion I’ve had the opportunity to get occasional (but insightful) glimpses into their world and their philosophy of the disenfranchised (from and by the State).
It turns out there are two groups of Hilltop Youth and they are very, very different.
The differences lie in their actions, their thoughts, and their origins.
The majority are good kids, healthy kids, good Jews, and simply good people. These are the ones that were sitting last night in the Ulam and learning Torah. That was nearly all of them.
These kids have a framework.
It may not be your typical conventional framework in any sense of the word, but it is definitely a positive framework. They learn Torah. They have Rabbis they talk with and follow. They debate the issues. They philosophize. They will fight for what they believe in. They explore our country and build small new communities. They believe and follow the Torah.
In short they are kids who are using their time positively to learn, create, grow, protect and build.
The second set is the small but highly publicized minority.
These are clearly troubled kids in their very early teens (12 - 15). They are not in any framework whatsoever except for the one that they are designing among themselves. They have no respect for any authority except themselves. They don’t explore the countryside, they wander it.
More interesting, apparently not only did many of these kids not grow up in the settlements, but just as likely, not even in a religious environment. These kids are imports from the cities where they could perhaps have just as easily ended up as druggies in Kikar Hamedina as they could have now as the local media darlings.
The origins are also different.
The first group was disenfranchised by the State, so they have given up on the state in return. But they haven’t given up their Jewish values or education.
The second group are typical problem kids that have found an outlet and escape in the hills of Judea and Samaria. But most did not start in strong framework (society, family, educational, religious) and are not in one now.
The first group of Hilltop Youth (the majority) are going to grow up and take various leadership roles in Jewish society.
The second set (the small minority)?
Without some sort of intervention (and that doesn’t mean reeducation centers) I don’t see them turning out well at all.
But who should take responsibility for them?
Avri Ran is one person who has, on his organic farm. But perhaps what is needed are social workers from within the community they've chosen to align themselves with. They would need government support, but not government intervention to make that happen.
Your thoughts?
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
The media likes to portray them rather monolithically, as wild kids, disrespecting all authority (including the Rabbis), as weeds and dangers to society (sort of like they should portray Left-wing anarchists, but never do). As kids living outside of any societal framework, just wandering the fields. One leftist MK recently proposed they all be gathered up and put into reeducation centers.
Since the Gush Katif expulsion I’ve had the opportunity to get occasional (but insightful) glimpses into their world and their philosophy of the disenfranchised (from and by the State).
It turns out there are two groups of Hilltop Youth and they are very, very different.
The differences lie in their actions, their thoughts, and their origins.
The majority are good kids, healthy kids, good Jews, and simply good people. These are the ones that were sitting last night in the Ulam and learning Torah. That was nearly all of them.
These kids have a framework.
It may not be your typical conventional framework in any sense of the word, but it is definitely a positive framework. They learn Torah. They have Rabbis they talk with and follow. They debate the issues. They philosophize. They will fight for what they believe in. They explore our country and build small new communities. They believe and follow the Torah.
In short they are kids who are using their time positively to learn, create, grow, protect and build.
The second set is the small but highly publicized minority.
These are clearly troubled kids in their very early teens (12 - 15). They are not in any framework whatsoever except for the one that they are designing among themselves. They have no respect for any authority except themselves. They don’t explore the countryside, they wander it.
More interesting, apparently not only did many of these kids not grow up in the settlements, but just as likely, not even in a religious environment. These kids are imports from the cities where they could perhaps have just as easily ended up as druggies in Kikar Hamedina as they could have now as the local media darlings.
The origins are also different.
The first group was disenfranchised by the State, so they have given up on the state in return. But they haven’t given up their Jewish values or education.
The second group are typical problem kids that have found an outlet and escape in the hills of Judea and Samaria. But most did not start in strong framework (society, family, educational, religious) and are not in one now.
The first group of Hilltop Youth (the majority) are going to grow up and take various leadership roles in Jewish society.
The second set (the small minority)?
Without some sort of intervention (and that doesn’t mean reeducation centers) I don’t see them turning out well at all.
But who should take responsibility for them?
Avri Ran is one person who has, on his organic farm. But perhaps what is needed are social workers from within the community they've chosen to align themselves with. They would need government support, but not government intervention to make that happen.
Your thoughts?
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
The Holtzberg's
I left work for 30 minutes yesterday to pay my respects to the Chabad couple, Rabbi Gabi and Rivke Holtzberg, who were tortured and brutally murdered in Mumbai, India last week by Muslim terrorists. I drove to Beit Orot neat Har HaZeitim, put on my MDA EMT vest, took my equipment of of my car, and waited at the corner for the procession to pass. Loud Arab music erupted from the corner, so I went to the policeman and told him about it. He seemed unimpressed. I told him that it wass totally disrespectful for music to be blasting as a funeral procession was about to pass, and he had better do something about it.
I think my MDA vest helped, because he actually took me seriously, and forcefully told the Arabs to shut off their music. When they refused, he called over another police car to deal with them; the music ceased and the Arabs dispersed.
A minute later the procession came by. Police cars, MDA ambulances and Hatzala ambucycles led the way, followed by the black vans of the Chevra Kadisha, carrying the bodies of Gaby and Rivkie.
I walked along the sidewalk beside them, thinking about the terror attack. 20 seconds later they were gone, on their way for burial at Har HaZeitim.
Drove back to work, wondering why in every single generation, our enemies continue to pursue us.
May G-d Avenge their deaths - Hashem Yikom Damam.
**see this link about the Holtzberg's.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Bulldozers in Hebron
Peace (House) in our time?
I just got back from the Peace House and I am trying to reach some conclusions.
I watched the “Hilltop Youth” today sitting in the main hall learning Gemorah, where just yesterday they were defending this stronghold and our right to be in Hebron - and Israel itself.
Some younger kids were acting up violently on the road outside, until the adults put an end to their shenanigans.
This evening was calm (though a friend of mine was arrested this morning in another event in Hebron – I happened to actually see that on a video on the internet).
I don’t think the police or the army were ready for yesterday at the Peace House. I suspect they figured that at worst it would be like Amona, where for the most part they got to break Jewish heads freely.
I suspect the police and army understand that if they continue in the direction Barak is forcing them to take, there will be a civil war long before Barak has a chance to lose any more seats than he has already.
I think it’s safe to assume that responsible leadership on both sides spoke today and decided to have the government forces back off before something irreversible happens. I am sure that a unilateral decision like that annoyed Barak, as something irreversible is exactly what he is hoping for.
Will the expulsion actually happen?
Based on yesterday I would say it is slightly less likely.
This won’t be a Gush Katif or Amona. The price for the Peace House is now far higher than the responsible members of the police and IDF are probably willing to pay. But then again, you have irresponsible politicians like Barak, who see this as a way to win Brownie Points from their dwindling number of constituents.
And then you also have members of the police that would be murderous sociopaths today if they hadn’t gotten a uniform which make certain actions socially acceptable. Clearly if one of those is in charge, we can still expect bad things.
A lot remains to be seen before I can draw some proper conclusions which I may try to do in another post another time.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
I watched the “Hilltop Youth” today sitting in the main hall learning Gemorah, where just yesterday they were defending this stronghold and our right to be in Hebron - and Israel itself.
Some younger kids were acting up violently on the road outside, until the adults put an end to their shenanigans.
This evening was calm (though a friend of mine was arrested this morning in another event in Hebron – I happened to actually see that on a video on the internet).
I don’t think the police or the army were ready for yesterday at the Peace House. I suspect they figured that at worst it would be like Amona, where for the most part they got to break Jewish heads freely.
I suspect the police and army understand that if they continue in the direction Barak is forcing them to take, there will be a civil war long before Barak has a chance to lose any more seats than he has already.
I think it’s safe to assume that responsible leadership on both sides spoke today and decided to have the government forces back off before something irreversible happens. I am sure that a unilateral decision like that annoyed Barak, as something irreversible is exactly what he is hoping for.
Will the expulsion actually happen?
Based on yesterday I would say it is slightly less likely.
This won’t be a Gush Katif or Amona. The price for the Peace House is now far higher than the responsible members of the police and IDF are probably willing to pay. But then again, you have irresponsible politicians like Barak, who see this as a way to win Brownie Points from their dwindling number of constituents.
And then you also have members of the police that would be murderous sociopaths today if they hadn’t gotten a uniform which make certain actions socially acceptable. Clearly if one of those is in charge, we can still expect bad things.
A lot remains to be seen before I can draw some proper conclusions which I may try to do in another post another time.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Jews Murdered in Mumbai Arrive Home for Burial
The bodies of the murdered Jews in Mumbai arrived home in Israel last night at 11:00 PM. The funerals are scheduled for different times today -- the funeral for Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg is scheduled to start at 1:00 PM in Kfar Chabad.
There has been much noise that the coffins were draped with Israeli flags due to a request from one of the families, and they insisted a tallit be placed on the coffin instead.
The coffins were all draped with flags and tallitot.
The bottom line is, "sources in the Haredi Community stressed that they did not plan to create havoc over the matter."
There has been much noise that the coffins were draped with Israeli flags due to a request from one of the families, and they insisted a tallit be placed on the coffin instead.
The coffins were all draped with flags and tallitot.
The family of slain Hasid Aryeh Leib Teitelbaum has informed the government that it would like the State not to intervene with his funeral.While people may criticize Teitelbaum's family, they did raise $125,000 to fly his body back to Israel privately without waiting for the IAF plane, yet Israel forcibly insisted that all the bodies be flown back together, with flags and a State sponsored funeral. In his lifetime, Aryeh Leib Teitelbaum led his life according to strict Satmar ideals, and did not accept bituach leumi or government aid -- and he worked in India to support his family.
According to a family member, "Holding a Zionist funeral for Teitelbaum, who was a Satmar Hasid, would desecrate the dead man's honor." The family demanded not to have a government representative at the funeral and that the casket, which will be flown into Israel today, would not be covered with the Israeli flag.
They also asked that Teitelbaum's body would be released immediately upon the plane's arrival, so that they would be able to hold an intimate funeral for him as soon as possible.
Shmuel Pfenheim of the Haredi Community anti-Zionist stream told Ynet: "I'm sending a message from the family. We don't want the State to meddle in our grief. Suddenly Israel has an interest to show the world that it is also a victim of global jihad, so it decides to throw a big ceremony with a coffin wrapped in a flag. We object to this. It pains us and offends our values."
Pfenheim, who attended the same yeshiva as Teitelbaum, added: "He wasn't killed as an envoy of the State or as a Zionist person. He simply went there as a kashrut supervisor on behalf of an American kashrut system. He himself was an American citizen, and although he was a resident in Israel he wasn't an Israeli national.
"The mere fact that he was living here, in a closed congregation, doesn't give the country permission to exploit his death."
Despite their protest, sources in the Haredi Community stressed that they did not plan to create havoc over the matter. "We are not like Neturei Karta. We conduct our struggles peacefully, and are simply begging the minister in charge and the police – the man has suffered enough. He's been there for almost a week. Let us bury him according to the family's will." (YNET)
The bottom line is, "sources in the Haredi Community stressed that they did not plan to create havoc over the matter."
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Peace House in Hebron
Things are heating up at the Peace House in Hebron. Hundreds of Jews from all over are converging at the location, as the city is filling up with Yassam and Magav soldiers/policemen.
Extreme police violence is expected.
11:25 Police on loudspeakers are shouting orders.
12:02 Police shooting teargas, rocks being thrown, Arabs throwing rocks.
12:24 Police not doing anything right now. The local army base is packed with forces.
2:30AM Police reinforcements arrive.
3:00AM Police shoot rock grenades and tear gas.
It's a regular war zone.
Cameraman catches on film a policeman beating up a settler boy.
Generally assumed that the police did not go in to evacuate the house was due to the resistance they met outside.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Extreme police violence is expected.
11:25 Police on loudspeakers are shouting orders.
12:02 Police shooting teargas, rocks being thrown, Arabs throwing rocks.
12:24 Police not doing anything right now. The local army base is packed with forces.
2:30AM Police reinforcements arrive.
3:00AM Police shoot rock grenades and tear gas.
It's a regular war zone.
Cameraman catches on film a policeman beating up a settler boy.
Generally assumed that the police did not go in to evacuate the house was due to the resistance they met outside.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Monday, December 01, 2008
Eyewitness Account of a Shabbat in Hevron's "Beit HaShalom"
The following email was received from a friend about his personal experience this past Shabbat, at the "Beit HaShalom" -- the "home of peace" in Hevron which Ehud Barak and Tzippi Livni are doing their best -- to evict all the Jews from this legally purchased home.This eyewitness account is a scary example of what's really going on in Hevron, and why its important for people not to rely only on the avowedly anti-settler MSM websites.
Jameel,
Ibrihim here.
My family and I were fortunate to spend Shabbat Toldot in Bet Hashalom. While trying to take my Shabbat nap (always a challenge in the sleep challenged ibn-Ibrihim family), I was woken up to the sound of shooting. No just one or two bullets, but repeated shooting. Making sure that the ibn-Ibrihim's who were in the room (we later found out that two were in Kiryat Arba visiting a friend, and so, missed a lot of the "fun"), away from the windows, I went out of the apartment we were staying in, in order to see what was happening, and to see who was shooting at who, and in which direction.
While I am sure that you know the geography of Hebron, Bet HaShalom, and Kiryat Arba, for the benefit of your readers, allow me to explain. Bet Hashalom is at the top of a hill going into Hebron. It overlooks a wadi (a valley). On the other side of the wadi is Yeshivat Nir and Kiryat Arba. In the Wadi are houses occupied by Arabs.
When I went out to the balcony outside our apartment, the wadi was filled with Jewish youths, Israel Border Police, regular police, and soldiers. The police and soldiers were chasing the Jewish youths and shooting in the air. At some point a group of Arabs became involved too. That was my first impression.
The next thing I noticed is that wherever the Arabs were, there were video camera men there, no doubt from Pallywood. You can be sure that the lenses of those cameras were very selective about what they were shooting.
Since I didn't know where the missing ibn-Ibrihims were, I went down to the street level (overlooking the wadi), and started asking. While I was there, I noticed an Arab teenager on the roof of his house throwing stones down on -- well, I couldn't see who, because the house was in the way, but I'd bet that whoever was receiving the stones had did not have names like Jameel and Ibrihim, but more like Gamliel and Avraham, but that is just a guess…
At any rate, I grabbed a soldier who was next to me, and pointed him at our young peace partner (the one throwing stones). The soldier said to me, "Yes, I see him too." That was the end of that story. No doubt, had the youth been Jewish, that story might have ended in the Hebron police station. (Then you wonder why people on the right wing of the Israeli political spectrum become extreme in their views?)
Then about 10 border policemen ran by, each one carrying 4 billy-clubs (I guess they were afraid that some would break).
After that I began to find out what had happened. It seems that Ateret Levinger, the wife of Malachi, the recently elected mayor of Kiryat Arba, was crossing the wadi. 2 Border policemen stopped her and told her that she was not allowed to cross through the wadi. Since that wadi is used all the time by people going back and forth between Kiryat Arba and Hebron, she had the temerity to ask why. One of the policemen grabbed her, and began pushing her. When she tried to get away from them, one of the policemen gave chase, and pushed her to the ground. He kicked her, and when she stood up , he cocked his gun and pointed it at her.
Since R. Uzi Sharbouf shlit"a (Ateret Levinger's brother in law) saw all of this from his window, he let the youth at Bet Hashalom know what was happening, and they ran to try to save her from the Policeman. When the Arabs from the house under Yeshivat Nir saw a policeman attacking Mrs. Levinger, they came out, followed by 10s of cameramen, and began stoning the Jews.
As I said, I saw large portions of what I write above -- the rest was told to me by other eye witnesses.
For the record, the policeman who started this, was suspended from duty and confined to base, so even the Army seems to agree with a version of events close to what I reported.
(see link in Hebrew: http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/182233)
Thanks,
Ibrihim ibn Ibrihim
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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