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Last update - 03:31 14/08/2008 Why do they keep silent? By Yair Sheleg Tags: Settlers, West Bank, Israel A new wave of violence by settler youth, more serious than the last one, has spread across the occupied territories. These youths differ from their parents. They have no interest in a legitimate political struggle, nor do they claim to be acting on "behalf of the people of Israel." These outlaws espouse anarchistic beliefs and try to prevent the Israeli people from achieving their goals, whatever the price. Woe to those who get in their way. Such a phenomenon results in part from the disengagement crisis three years ago. That affair made these youths despise political struggles that "have no effect." But that is not the only cause: Essentially, the phenomenon is part of a settler take on an Israeli attitude toward individualism. For instance, Israeli society in recent years has been busy "fulfilling itself," and the hell with collective responsibility. Then settler youths came along with their own violent version of that trend. "Rule of law" in itself, and respect for the rules of the game that go along with it, are not enough for them. These violent groups are just a few rotten apples and can be handled by the law enforcement authorities, but their effect on the mainstream settler movement poses a potentially much greater problem. The settlers, who were once the first to denounce the minority violent groups, are now much more careful about doing so. Unruly youths are criticized only when they stop listening to the leaders of the settler establishment or dare lash out against settler leaders like Ze'ev Hever of the Amana organization. Advertisement The settler silent majority does not share the violent anarchistic spirit of these youths, and it considers itself an integral part of the nation. At the same time, the settler leaders refrain from launching an education campaign against violence because of their sense of betrayal by the establishment. They are careful about cooperating with the authorities, and some even harbor feelings that maybe somehow these youths, with whom they do not identify, might benefit them by creating a "balance of fear" with the state. The sense of betrayal works on three levels: On the most basic one, it concerns the fate of the evacuated settlers. Even if the failures of their rehabilitation are due to regular bureaucratic errors and not political spite, the settlers traumatized in the process see it differently. On the second level, settlers fume over the inability of the general public, and of the left in particular, to recognize the difference in the settler movement between the law-abiding mainstream and the violent minority. All settlers are labeled as being violent, a phenomenon that was apparent during the disengagement. The Yesha Council's stand against the radicals in its camp, most notably during the rally at Kfar Maimon that came very close to a being large-scale clash with the army, has not been sufficiently recognized. It is legitimate to criticize and oppose the settler enterprise. But those who insist on failing to distinguish between the law-abiders and violent groups among them run the risk that the mainstream and radicals will join forces. Of course, that is not to say that the law enforcement authorities should cease carrying out operations among the settlers, especially the violent ones. But just as the fight against fundamental Islam requires cooperation with the moderates, violence by settlers will not be solved in the long run without cooperating with the moderates. Such cooperation will only be achieved if the sense of betrayal is resolved, the rehabilitation of the evacutated settlers is expedited, recognition for the moderate settlers' achievements and worth is expressed, and the rule of law is enforced carefully and equally on everyone in Israeli society. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A man of peace Vatican defends wartime pope Pius XII against charge he turned blind eye to Holocaust. Feminine features An Iranian motor company unveils plans to design cars specifically tailored to women.   1.   The big lie 10:30  |  Natallie Durson 14/08/08   2.   Fair enough 10:32  |  Sam 14/08/08   3.   What Silent Settler Majority, They Support Their Thug Children 11:24  |  Johan Odin 14/08/08   4.   A bigger lie 11:51  |  NU 14/08/08   5.   NU- Settlers are under international microscope 12:30  |  Sam 14/08/08   6.   First Honest Article ever by Haaretz!!! 14:54  |  Dr Eric 14/08/08   7.   Settlers do behave badly, but is anybody listening to them? 14:56  |  AliciaYasmeen 14/08/08   8.   Yair Sheleg... well-intentioned or naive...? 15:22  |  Esther 14/08/08   9.   For Alicia #7 16:26  |  Esther 14/08/08   10.   Settlers are PROUD of their brave youth! 16:40  |  Fred Michaelsberg 14/08/08   11.   #9 Esther; the lobbyists are a problem! They replace democratic 17:22  |  AliciaYasmeen 14/08/08   12.   Few posters discuss the settlers with knowledge 17:22  |  Asher 14/08/08   13.   Law abiding in an irredentist sense 17:25  |  Irishman 14/08/08   14.   Natallie is sort of right 17:36  |  mg 14/08/08   15.   Young thugs 18:00  |  Cyasher 14/08/08   16.   The rule of law you said ? 18:14  |  Jamie 14/08/08   17.   Jamie, Irishman wrong, intnl law requires Jewish settlements 19:05  |  mg 14/08/08   18.   Olmert and Livni are treasonous thugs 21:22  |  H 14/08/08   19.   #17 mg 21:38  |  Boycott 14/08/08   20.   More Haaretz censorship 21:44  |  Ilan 14/08/08   21.   A very simple solution 22:27  |  Meir 14/08/08   22.   Natallie Durson 22:46  |  John P. 14/08/08   23.   #19 boycott 23:13  |  mg 14/08/08   24.   313 PADDY AMD MORE CRAP ON INTERNATIONAL LAW 23:45  |  victor hardman 14/08/08   25.   313 PADDY AMD MORE CRAP ON INTERNATIONAL LAW 23:45  |  victor hardman 14/08/08   26.   #21 & #22....victor hardman... 00:30  |  Silvienne 15/08/08   27.   Natural and expected although delayed response 00:56  |  Scharker Yid 15/08/08   28.   Sharker Yid missing the point 01:25  |  Ofer Maimon 15/08/08   29.   Well, it`s obvious why they keep silent 02:48  |  Johnboy 15/08/08   30.   Angry young men, even Jews 02:57  |  Scharker Yid 15/08/08   31.   scharker yid 28 03:10  |  potobac 15/08/08   32.   Amusing irony! 06:07  |  Zafar 15/08/08   33.   #30 Scharker Yid 17:06  |  THK 15/08/08   34.   Nathalie, you still don`t get it! 00:21  |  Zev Davis 22/08/08   35.   Why would they be angry with 17:35  |  T A Sheppard 10/10/08

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