Netanyahu: Jewish extremists not a 'terror group' but will be given military trial
PM approves series of steps to crack down on right-wing extremists that recently attacked IDF soldiers, carried out 'price tag' attacks.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu IDF Israel settlementsPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved Wednesday a series of steps that would crack down on Jewish extremists responsible for recent violent attacks on IDF soldiers and other targets, but rejected a recommendation to label them a "terror group."
Netanyahu approved issuing administrative detention orders for the Jewish extremists, as is usually done with Palestinians suspected of being a security risk. Moreover, the prime minister approved trying the Jewish activists in military courts, which would effectively expedite their sentencing and make their punishment more severe.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. |
| Photo by: Daniel Bar-On |
Netanyahu also gave IDF soldiers the authority to carry out arrests in the West Bank and to increase the number of activists from the extreme right that could be removed from the West Bank.
In addition, Israel will expand Shin Bet and Israel Police investigation teams, and the State Prosecution and the IDF will receive more resources for investigations.
The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that Netanyahu has rejected recommendations by Israeli security forces to define Jewish extremists in the West Bank as terrorists.
"Whoever lays a hand on IDF soldiers or Israeli policemen will be harshly punished," Netanyahu said but assured, "These people are a small group that does not represent those living in Judea and Samaria - people loyal to the state and its laws and who condemn such behavior."
Earlier Wednesday, dozens of right-wing activists clashed with police officers in Jerusalem, amid attempts to arrest suspects linked to recent so-called price tag attacks.
Clashes in Jerusalem followed a series of recent violent events involving extremist Jewish activists. Also on Wednesday, a mosque of historical significance in the capital was set alight overnight in another apparent "price tag" attack.
Arsonists set fire to a deserted mosque in central Jerusalem, with damage mainly consisting of the blackening of walls and graffiti reading “Price Tag,” and anti-Islamic phrases.
Earlier, fears that the Israel Defense Forces was about to evacuate an illegal outpost triggered several violent incidents targeting Palestinians in the West Bank.
Two trucks and a car were torched in the Palestinian village of Duma near Nablus, with the inscription "camaraderie Mitzpe Yitzhar" spray painted nearby.
In another incident, rocks were reported to have hurled at Palestinian vehicles passing through the Tapuach and Rechalim Junction; a young Jewish woman was arrested in relation to the attacks.
On Tuesday, dozens of right-wing activists infiltrated an IDF base in the West Bank, with others assaulting the vehicle of a top military officer, who escaped with minor injuries.
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I'm sure this is tznius to her rebbe.
Netanyahu looking for ways to be seen to act tough whilst not upsetting Lieberman's and Ayaalon's voter base. Netanyahu wanting to bamboozle the normal decent Israelis into thinking he really cares about their children serving in the IDF rather than keeping his name on the Prime Minister's Office door.
What makes you think they will even listen to the IDF? You harbor bandits, you aren't getting away with settlement building because the world incl the US is watching it happening, and now you are going to take a SERIES of steps... ok. How about 1 step, Bibi? You start acting like what Israel says it is to the rest of the world instead of using it to fool us.
Jewish extremist are terrorists and will be given military trial.Or only goyim are?.
an Israeli settler, who ran over a roadblock and did not obey the police officer's orders, is a terrorist. Oh, the logic, how you evade me?
Remember the lesson of the Altalena Affair: the elected government cannot allow alternate centers of power.
try to connect it to muslims, arabs.
I ask you to cancel ( terror) from your agenda ! .
other than the left in this country, everyone knows who the real enemy is, and no matter how many useless articles you, ynet and jpost put up trying to vilify us, it won't work. the country isn't fooled anymore, the left is dead get over it
Sorry - I hate to use an ad hominem - but you're dumb.
Others have known who the "real enemy" was and acted drastically on that "knowledge."
Bibi's own book on terrorism contradicts his statements to the people of Israel and the world. He defines it as “Terrorism is the deliberate and systematic assault on civilians to inspire fear for political ends.” Well if the shoe fits!
do not be fooled. What we are witnessing today, the desacration of mosques and churches, the burning of fileds, the uprooting of orchards and groves, the humilation of the elderly and the violence against children and women all of this is just a precursor for what they are really waiting and preparing for and that is focused on the Temple Mount and Israel is doing nothing to prevent it. Nothing. Mark my words, that is what this rabble, these terrorists who feel they are ushering in the Messianic period are concerned with. This is what they want and they are preparing for just that. And no slap on the wrist is going to stop them. Since they believe non-Jews are not as human as they are and that any non-Jew laying claim to Eretz HaKodesh is an anathema then they bleive they can kill them since all non-Jews in the land are a threat to the existence of the Jews.
Hey! And just when was that? You must know something no one else knows anything about.
ad nauseum, we have these gasbags and propgandists stand up and say, they are not terrorists. They are simply good Jewish boys who have gone a little over the edge and when they fool with the national sacred cow, the IDF, well, then, oy voy voy lehem! Then they will have their wrists slapped. But the IDF is infected with this very ilk that is carrying out their acts of violence and terror. This is just the beginning. mark my words and mark them carefully: All of this that we are witnessing currently from what Bradley Burstein aptly calls the "stinkweeds of Judea and Samaria" are gearing up for the greatest price tag of all in which the IDF cadres that are a part of this lethal virulence, will participate and that is a violent provocation to regain the Temple Mount and kill as many Muslims as possible. This is not hysteria, this is not left wing rhetoric. This is their goal and it is for this goal that they are working diligently for the right moment to arise and this gasbag netanyahu will still be clucking that they are just over zealous misguided youth just slightly off the path they were instructed and reared to follow. As fotr this latest troop of terrorists, they will be made an example of and then soon be pardoned after which they will return to cheers to their colonies that Israel had commited to dismantling yrs ago.
designated as terrorists in Israel is what? Is it based on their religion? There nationality? Their politics?
The 'hilltop youth' are not typical of the religious-zionist settlers, but neither are they distinct. If they were designated as terrorists then active sympathizers, especially funding sources in the U.S. would be stigmatized as supporters of terrorism. They could be investigated, prosecuted, even jailed. This might dry up funds to groups Netanyahu finds useful - National Union for example.
Nethanyahu wants them to vote for him. He sees them as the salt of the earth.
Remember they are not Arabs nor Moslems; therefore, it does not help our agenda to call them terrorists!
The militants in Gaza that shoot at IDF patrols are not considered terrorists. Their brothers that fire missiles at Sderot and school busses are considered terrorists. Got it now?
They will not get any trials, let alone go to jail.
These 'extremists' are terrorizing the country, therefore they are terrorists. There is no problem identifying the Palestinians who are demonstrating against the settlers as Terrorists and the Palestinians do not spray graffiti and burn religious buildings or attack their police or uproot olive trees.
Why don't you wait to watch the trials of these people before you make your silly comments ? Do you care if they are called terrorists or not? They are going to be under "administrative detention" same as Palestinians when they are taken in to custody. And under military court rules for quick trial and stiffer penalties. Still not good enough for you ?
You're expecting too much from people. If they're doing what you want, who cares what they call it.
because they are following their g-d´s order.
It maybe good enough for him, but I await the day (not very hopefully) when Jews and Palestinians are treated equally before the law. Would you dare to suggest they will be treated with equal severity as Palestinians would be? Palestinians would invaded an IDF post and acted as they did would have been shot.