Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., July 24, 2008 Tamuz 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 16:22 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 18:06 21/07/2008
IDF reservists: Guarding former Jewish terrorist is unjustified and a waste
By Amos Harel
Tags: Hebron, Chaim Herzog 

The security which the Israel Defense Forces provides for Menachem Livni - a former leader of the Jewish terrorist underground - is unjustified and wasteful, claim reservists who completed a tour of duty in Hebron last week.

The reservists say that sufficient security for Livni can be provided by civilian guards, and that the troops used for protecting him are more urgently needed to safeguard the roadways used by the many Israelis living in the area.

Livni was convicted for playing a leading role in the Jewish underground during the 1980s and was sentenced to life imprisonment, but released after six years, in 1990, when president Chaim Herzog pardoned him.
Advertisement
Since then, he has been cultivating a plot of land east of Hebron, at the outskirts of the Palestinian village of Bani Naim.

In the past there have been a number of violent incidents in the vicinity. During a bomb explosion near Livni's land in June 2002, three Israeli pupils were injured; in September that same year IDF troops shot and killed four Palestinian workers who approached the area, suspecting them of trying to carry out a terrorist attack.

The reservists, members of an Armored Corps unit, told Haaretz that they had been asked to guard Livni closely, on an almost a daily basis, for several hours each time, when he went to work in his fields.

The reservists said that according to the orders given by the brigade command, securing Livni was a priority task, surpassing the securing of roadways.

"Therefore, either three soldiers were stationed there, or we canceled a jeep patrol in the area during the hours that Livni was in his fields. The soldiers were required to stay near him," they explained.

In response the IDF spokesman said that "working the plot of land is legal and its owner is entitled to do so as is every farmer. The plot in question is in a dangerous area. To deal with the threat, the IDF is securing the work there, and allowing the owner to exercise his right as a citizen."
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
A hero or a pharaoh?
An Iranian film praising Sadat's assassin has touched off a row between Egypt and Iran.
Primary colors
Barack Obama looks to reassure Jews of his commitment to Israeli security.
  1.   `Jewish` Terrorists. 05:14  |  Maureen Ann 21/07/08
  2.   agreed - quit defending hebron settlers. 07:57  |  michelle 21/07/08
  3.   oh come on Maureen 07:59  |  vik 21/07/08
  4.   didnt know 09:42  |  mmm 21/07/08
  5.   #3 vik 09:44  |  Michael 21/07/08
  6.   let the proud idf soldiers continue to guard him 10:30  |  eric 21/07/08
  7.   Decisions 10:54  |  sh 21/07/08
  8.   Jewish terrorist-Palestinian militants 10:55  |  Yitzhak Sokoloff 21/07/08
  9.   I agree 11:07  |  israel winicki 21/07/08
  10.   Herzog`s legacy 11:17  |  Joe Sittizen 21/07/08
  11.   3 IDF soldiers for 1 settler .... wow 11:21  |  Sarah 21/07/08
  12.   Is this fantastic story true...?! 11:24  |  Esther 21/07/08
  13.   non-Israeli farmers are more in danger 11:35  |  John 21/07/08
  14.   Targetted soldiers. 11:52  |  M. Franks-Lhermann 21/07/08
  15.   Vik - are you just ignorant or what? 12:05  |  Mike Friedman 21/07/08
  16.   Soldiers should round up illegal settlers, not protect them. 12:06  |  Jens 21/07/08
  17.   #16 and Hebron 12:23  |  Joe 21/07/08
  18.   Guarding a jewish terrorist? 12:51  |  Marilyn 21/07/08
  19.   Livni deserves commendation, not condemnation from the nation 13:09  |  Harvey (Chaim) 21/07/08
  20.   Why protect him? 13:34  |  Slibovitz 21/07/08
  21.   Unbelieveable 13:44  |  David king 21/07/08
  22.   Jens 16: neither the IDF nor anyone else will round up Jews! 14:24  |  Realist 21/07/08
  23.   We spent so much more money to throw out Jewish people from G.K. 15:19  |  Harry 21/07/08
  24.   Moron Ann # 1 15:59  |  ChanahS 21/07/08
  25.   #6 Eric NM 16:09  |  * BEN JABO 21/07/08
  26.   #18 Marilyn - You have it wrong 16:11  |  * BEN JABO 21/07/08
  27.   funny jews 16:41  |  kukka 21/07/08
  28.   It is OK , He doesn t have Jewish blood on his hands. 17:57  |  American in NY 21/07/08
  29.   With a name Kukka and he calls us funny #27 19:35  |  Big Sur 21/07/08
  30.   Israel loves it`s Jewish Terrorists 19:50  |  POP 21/07/08
  31.   29 Big Sur 20:04  |  Harvey (Chaim) 21/07/08
  32.   28 American in NY 20:29  |  ballistic 21/07/08
  33.   That`s a real turnabout 21:12  |  Colin Wright 21/07/08
  34.   #25, Ben Jabo... 21:19  |  Silvienne 21/07/08
  35.   #34 Say Silvienne 22:04  |  ballistic 21/07/08
  36.   POP #30 22:19  |  Gee 21/07/08
  37.   #34 Silvienne - You asked this before & I answered 22:26  |  * BEN JABO 21/07/08
  38.   #28 American in NY 22:32  |  Ibn Musa 21/07/08
  39.   So why was Israel offended 00:01  |  Dave Duncan 22/07/08
  40.   27 funny 00:42  |  Anthony 22/07/08
  41.   Sarah; I write with crossed fingers.. 00:54  |  Gray 22/07/08
  42.   agreed - quit defending Jerusalem settlers. 01:40  |  Herbert Kaine 22/07/08
  43.   agreed - quit defending Jerusalem settlers. 01:40  |  Herbert Kaine 22/07/08
  44.   agreed - quit defending Jerusalem settlers. 01:40  |  Herbert Kaine 22/07/08
  45.   Israel Is Still Waiting For You Heros! 01:50  |  Gray 22/07/08
  46.   #45, Gray... 05:21  |  Silvienne 22/07/08
  47.   Silvienne; Yes, to their credit 06:08  |  Gray 22/07/08
  48.   #1 maureen - the BEST that she can DO is to refer to 07:40  |  CK Tan 22/07/08
  49.   Let me get this straight... 07:50  |  Che Vive 22/07/08
  50.   IDF guarding ANY Israelis beyond Green Line is the real waste! 08:22  |  Ivar 22/07/08
  51.   #1 maureen - the BEST she can DO is to refer to (2x) 10:24  |  CK Tan 22/07/08
  52.   # 25 to ben jabo re: forgery...everyone please read.(2nd try) 10:25  |  eric 22/07/08
  53.   Hello Tod Zuckerman (2x) 10:25  |  CK Tan 22/07/08
  54.   Say Eric re BJ 19:08  |  ballistic 22/07/08
  55.   #50 Ivar - You are correct, it is a waste 01:55  |  * BEN JABO 24/07/08
 Read & React
Sen. Joe Lieberman praises pastor who said Holocaust was God's work
Responses: 70
Obama tells Haaretz: Two states for two peoples
Responses: 62
Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran
Responses: 33
Editorial: We need a U.S. leader unfettered by the Israel lobby
Responses: 52
Israel Harel: Shalit must be made a burden for Hamas, rather than an asset
Responses: 19


More Headlines
14:37 Palestinians: Settlers rampage through West Bank village
14:11 Barack Obama tells Haaretz: Two states for two peoples
09:31 Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran
14:53 Terror victims' relatives file NIS 450m suit against PA, Barghouti
13:36 MKs okay new West Bank homes, despite vow to freeze settlements
14:41 Study: Tel Aviv more expensive to live in than New York
15:36 Jewish World/Unwilling flag wavers?
16:05 Egypt shuts Iranian TV office in Cairo amid spat over Sadat film
14:51 Haredis likely behind vandalism of Jerusalem ads featuring actress
09:27 ADL condemns anti-Semitic cartoons of Obama, McCain
13:34 VIDEO / Musician Idan Raichel woos Arabs in Al-Jazeera interview
13:33