IDF officer: Settlers who attacked soldiers are 'scum'

The settlers just need to behave themselves and behave like civilised human beings. After all this is what you would expect if this group were Palestinian. Isn't it?

I get your point. The trouble is Israel lacks a giant of the stature of Ben-Gurion and the talent he could draw on, with the willingness and guts to control these thugs.

No one group represents a nation, unless it's a Dictatorship Israel is a coalition, consisting of many parties "The FACT is that the overwhelming majority of Israelis" Of course you have some sort of viable survey that backs up your statement? If so, present it here and now for all to see, otherwise we'll know that your telling a tall vicous tale in your usual manner For one that's never been here, you sure do talk an awful lot of gibberish

If the Settlers have no respect for the law, the law should not respect them. We all know they are scum and other Jews are negatively impacted by their terrible actions.

Maybe the next building to be bulldozed should be the Yitzhar seminary.

Is this what our sons have to put up with and what we pay such high taxes for. "Jews" who attack ISRAELI soldiers on Independence Day. We are no more the chosen people than are the rest of the world.

It is strenuous to correct ppl*s prejudices, therefore I*ll use my own experience as a point of ref.. No IL-Arab has ever complained to me of bad treatment by the Jews. I also have never met a poor IL-Arab. Once I met IL-Arab girls on a rambling holiday in Ireland and they introduced themselves to me as "Israelis". First their Arabic revealed to me their ethnicity. To me they were just my compatriots and it felt good away from home. We shared the same room as this was only natural as it is in Israel. Muslim communities do not permit individualism, but demand absolute solidarity to their brothers of same religion. Therefore it is a "must" for them to stand up against Israel against their proper judgement, when this takes place. In-93 my friend felt thrilled about the aut.PA and told me he *ll become a Pal and move to Ramallah. He also ended our 10 yr friendship, telling me that "he hates Jews". Made me sad. Yrs later he came to see me and said he has chosen IL over PA!

On the subject: where is YOUR answer to my question, why the Muslims insist on keeping their nations "Muslim only"? As for Israel: Judaism is not a pol.ideology like Islam that is aspiring to world dominion. Therefore it is fully possible to be a Jewish state and live in a democracy. Like it is possible in Christian Scandinavia, where all the 5 countries have a cross on their flags to refer to Christian moral values, which their societies project and live true. Socialism and Christianity are one: "feed the hungry, clothe the naked, support the widows and orphans, visit the sick and raise your voice for the oppressed", in other words, both aspire for social justice equally to all: for RESPECT for their diverse humanity. Judaism shares the same moral values, which show the direction the Israeli society is being developed toward. Humanism is universal. Therefore it works to be a Jewish or a Christian state.Only the Muslim world categorizes people and treats them acc. to their "labels"

the control of the Palestinians authority instead of the IDF, and let see how they would behave. A civil WAR is FAST approaching.That's for sure, and many cannot see the writing on the wall, yet? HAMAS, What is HAMAS?? Wait and see.

At last an honest officer calling a spade a spade,after three soldiers wounded by STONES. OF course not all STONES are STONES!. there are Palestinians STONES, and Settlers STONES (less lethal). The officer added "The time has come to put an end to THIS" Why you may asked.? Well a plan has to be designed as of how to deal with such intolerable Behaviour,and which will be addressed in accordance with the law AT THE NECESSARY LEVEL OF firmness" are we to expect then that these settlers are to be shot in the head and chest by RUBBER BULLETS as in the recent cases where two Palestinians cousins got ACCIDENTALLY Killed,instantaneously, by throwing stones Of course NOT? don't be silly, these are the choosen people, that can only be touched by soft gloves. We are waiting to see that level of FIRMNESS that are going to be used, against them.

you shoot rubber bullets at them the idf would do that if Palestinians were rioting

The IDF should treat the settlers or the ysehiva fundamentalists like they do palestinian fundamentalists. They have a lot more in common than (settlers/yeshiva types with Hamas & The party of God. They are both intolerant of pluralism & dissent. The IDF shoul;d be cracking down hard on those who throw rocks/stones/try to harm the IDF no matter - whether they are jewish, christian or muslim. Its just that most stone throwers most of the time ( a bit like terrorists really) happen to be Muslims. Don't forget, the single biggest killer & oppressor of muslims are other muslims- but don't let facts get in the way of a bit of selective indignation.

When the IDF are attacked by the people they are tasked to protect in the occupied territories. How would you describe it? I thought saying that Israel was fragmenting was a good explaination of what we are witnessing.

"first: Israel*s Arabs are doing well and enjoying the same equal civil and human rights and freedoms as all the other Israeli citizens." In theory, yes. But not in practice. You are changing the subject though. We were talking about Muslim societies wanting to remain Muslim... Do you deny that there are powerful interests in Israel that view "Jewishness" as an integral part of being Israeli? "secondly: the Arabs were NOT driven out by the Jews(...)" It would be a gross over-simplification to name one (or two) reasons for their exodus. And I'm not going to go into that, since the reason why they felt so threatened that they left most of their assets and fled is in fact irrelevant in this case. The point I was making (and which you ignored) is that the refugees are prevented from returning while Israel readily accepts new immigrants, as long as they belong to the right religion. You're not about to dispute that, are you?

Fact is that Land has to be shared again and fair compromises made. i dont think there will be 2 state solution but a bi-national state. because there is simply no will among israel to share or give freedom to the palestinians. the bi-national state will be as it was before a nation were jews and muslims and christians can live in peace together. probably only after many wars. but fact of matter without 2 state solution.. it will be 1 state solution that will be called palestine.

Mark - your arguement that the "Settlers ARE Israel" obviously means that the war criminals ARE Palestine. Palestinian society decided long ago that they support attacks on Israeli civilians. They support suicide bombings and driveby shootings, and you can still get hero posters of suicide bombers both in Gaza and the West Bank. Goldstone, Amnesty and HRW all concluded that Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians are "war crimes". Their conclusion, not mine. These war crimes never stopped. They continue today. So by your logic, this attitude represents the Palestinian nation. Either your logic is wrong, or there's no point to peace talks since with your logic the Palestinians want war, not peace, since the suicide bombers represent Palestine.

Anybody remember Durson's predictions last year for a full scale war between Israel and Hezbollah leading to a regional war with Iran. Durson? Wanna enlighten us as to why you were wrong? Any reason we should believe that you're right now? All you wannabe gloom and doomers are simply suicidal, given that terrorism against Israel is down to record lows, Israel's economy is at record highs, and the Palestinians are the pinnacle of "Arab Unity" (aka - it doesn't exist, neither does Palestinian unity). Every time some fringe Israeli whackos go overboard, you bleat loudly about Israel coming apart at the seams. Too bad for you we've never been stronger.

You know, and I know, and anyone who pays any attention knows, that a frequent IDF response to Palestinians throwing rocks is the use of firearms, whether its rubber coated steel bullets or, especially in an up close confrontation like this, live fire. All of us also know that this is NEVER the case when the IDF is faced by settlers doing the same. Joseph said "as is so often the case ", he didn't say in every instance. And bottom line, the frequency has nothing to do with it, the issue is the dismal double standard that permeates every institution of our society. The IDF acts on that that double standard, which allows these settlers to act and do the things they do, without any fear of a harsh response or legal consequences. Even when they are arrested, they seldom find themselves in court, and when they do it usually ends up dismissed.

So some anonymous "IDF" officer disapproves of the actions of the Settlers. The IDF supports and protects those actions of the Settlers. The disapproving officer should resign as he is clearly too cowardly to have his name connected with his disapproval. The FACT is that the overwhelming majority of Israelis not only approve of the crimes of the Settlers, the approve of the government financing and protecting those crimes. The Settlers ARE Israel as Israel has long decided they should represent the nation.

Lack of discipline and respect for the country they live in.

Not sure if we should be using Columbus as an example of what the settlers aren't. I know we celebrate him, but as time passes we are realizing he was anything but a hero.

First of all, you have to find a single Arab Democratic State that you can model yourselves on Since there aren't any, you don't have a chance of a snowball in hell of ever becoming a Democracy, it's not in your DNA In most countries, politcal parties settle their differences at teh ballot box, you guys shoot each other If you have any doubts, look at your brothers in Iraq, Afghanistan & Pakistan Get the idea??

Canadian and US law are based on Judiasm and the Bible. No one has done more to destroy the Middle East than the US. The whole region has been polluted by platonium. No wonder why the why all Arabs hate you.

my cousins serve in combat units should i find out anything happened to them because of the Yitzhar extremist crowd I wont be impressed. I think they forfeited the right to serve within the IDF with such behavior towards Israeli soldiers and Palestinians alike this should qualify them for an immediate exemption.

Is this what we risk our lives and that of our sons and daughters/relatives etc for??? The Army needs too show all extremists of any ilk that they cannot do whatever suits them. Those soldiers were their protecting them and they instigate Arabs,attack soldiers etc enough is enough.

It was "S" to whom I should have responded. Mea culpa, Joseph. It is definitely not you who is the liar. Every word you write is the truth. "S" on the other hand gives neither name or location. Typical of cowards.

The IDF must concentrate on arab violence, who use machine guns, rather than attack Jewish kids.

so what will the IDF do next to get rid of these scumbags once and for all? all settlers must be removed from the west bank and east jerusalem -or- they can become citizens of Palestine. Its their choice because Palestine will be a real democracy.

Oh man thats a good one. Pioneers he calls them. How on earth are these thieves now "Pioneers"? Columbus was a Pioneer, Tesla was a pioneer, Edison , Lewis and Clark were all Pioneers. How dare you use this term when it comes to bunch of land thieves. LMAO Pioneers You must have graduated from the Shecky Greene School of Comedic Terminology The settlers are lucky they were abl to find their way to the EL-AL terminal at JFK when they made Aliyah much less discover new frontiers to be classified as Pioneers.

Your religion does not determine land ownership. The world is not a Jewish theocracy. Believe whatever you want for your own purposes, but you're a fool if you expect the world to accept your interpretation of your religion as law. Does Canada accept Judiasm as law? I think not. Your religion is your business, but it is no justification for stealing land clearly not yours under international law. Jews have no more - and no less - rights than Palestinians, religious dogma notwithstanding.

The Israeli left is destroying our country, or at least they try to do so. Let's not forget; in the eyes of our enemy's we are all Settlers !

The big majority of the Soldiers serving in and around Yitzhar are on the side of the Jewish residents of this town.It is true; they are not easy to handle because they make no compromises about their rights in our Homeland. I served their myself and i can only imagine that another self hating Jew, in this case an officer created this Situation.

first: Israel*s Arabs are doing well and enjoying the same equal civil and human rights and freedoms as all the other Israeli citizens. secondly: the Arabs were NOT driven out by the Jews, but by two factors: 1)the Arab propaganda: they listened to Arab radio-stations and believed their agitation to leave as they also believed them when they forbade them from returning after the war-48, bc it *d have been taken for "recignition" of the Jewish state of Israel and 2)they*re NOT one ppl: Pa-Arabs were made of clans and from immigrants from neighboring Arab-countries. Therefore they were not organized as one people and were busy to get out. They themselves asked the British to arrange their transportation out of Israel: British ships took them to Egypt, Leb and Syria and the British drove them by their lorries to Jordan. The Arabs really must take responsibility for their delibarately premedidated and arranged departure from Israel. Stick to the facts and peace will follow!

Remeber some time ago when I told you while riding in a bus through Brooklyn, NY, if it wasn't for the fact that my bus windows wasn't fully opened, I too could have been the recipient of a stone thrown at me, I was lucky, it just hit the window Needles to say, what I had to say about the stone tosser wasn't fit for publication Ditto, when a Kid threw a rock at my car

It's time to stop harping on their being teenagers, if they're old enough to throw stones, age is no excuse

The land of Israel was given to the 12 tribes of Israel by God for a perpetual inheritance. The current country consists only of the 2.5 tribes that comprise the Jews. Wait till the 10 tribes of Israel come home again!

"Who is this officer who labeled settlers as scum? His political views are obviously very left wing" Why should the officer in question have necessarily have left wing views? Maybe he just doesn't want to see his soldiers injured by the people they are there to protect...

I am not disrespecting the IFD when I say they have shot Palestinian teenagers throwing stones; you know it's true! You're right, I didn't know you were so young when you went in to the IDF; I had just assumed you were eighteen at the time. Sixteen - and even eighteen - seems so young for such adult responsibility. And yes; of course I agree; no-one should be throwing stones in the first place....

Efrat is an illegal settlement. For all we know this fellow chaim could be one of those scum destroying olive trees and harrassing Palestinians. Why else would he condone lawlessness. His is the word of a thief.

The IDF, for once, decided to prevent these fanatic Jewish settlers from committing a pogrom on a nearby Palestinian village. So of course these violent scum settlers turned their sights on the settlers instead. Its no wonder the Palestinians want these animals out of their lands, can't say I blame them!

If the attackers where Palestians the IDF would have drop bombs at some Palestian houses and shoot some Palestian people. That is just the different.

"Why only the Arabs stubbornly hold on to the idea that Muslim societies have to remain "Muslim only"?" Yeah only Arabs. It's not like Israel likes to demand to be recognized as a Jewish nation. Israeli children don't question the principle of the same rights for the Israeli Muslims as for the Israeli Jews. Israel doesn't have unlimited rights for (new) people of a certain religion to move there while banning people of another religion (who were driven away) from returning. It's quite a beautiful glasshouse you've got here. Here, let me hand you another stone to throw.

....to "clean house", you would get away with 19 fatalities this time. If you would confront the ideological settlers, you might very well end up with (big) parts of the IDF fighting against their own IDF brothers.... ....sadly for your country, such a future confrontation is pretty much unavoidable.

Who is this officer who labeled settlers as scum? His political views are obviously very left wing. No big deal. Had another officer labeled Arabs as scum after being shot at, the public outcry by Haaretz, and the rest of the left wing media would have been deafening. What a bunch of hypocrites!

"Even one is too many. And you and I both know the IDF kills teenagers throwing stones" Teenagers shouldn't throw stones, neither should younger kids It seems you're either unaware or intentionally ignorant, most armies in this world, including the USA will accept 17 year olds for military service, other countries conscript them at even younger ages I for one, and I never told you this, went into the IDF at 16-1/2, fibbing about my age, when the checked my passport, I told them the DOB was a typo

The IDF interferes far more with innocent Palestinians. Can you not see how racist it is to complain that they should only try to control Pals and let wild, violent settlers do whatever they want? Do you really think that the settlers should be able to do anything they want to do, including shooting at Pals trying to tend their own crops? Don't Jews within Israel have to obey law and defer to authority? But settlers are "special." You're creating immoral brats. It will be interesting to watch when they are forced back into their own country.

He is right! They are scum! If they do not like their country then move out! Amen! I am moving to Israel..I don't like the uSA anymore. Trade places with a few of you Liberal idiots!

"only reason they come there is to incite riots and provoke the Palestinians" It seems some are finally figuring the settlers, or at least some of them, out. Can you imagine what would have happened if Pals had done this, how many would have died? They gas & shoot Pals for similar conduct (uncooperativeness and even stone throwing) but the settlers get upset & demand to report a warning shot. Israel, you are creating little Frankensteins (behaviorally, not racially) who feel even more entitled than most Zionists, do not hesitate to use violence and feel perfectly free to harass, beat and shoot at innocent Pals, many of whom are just trying to tend their own fields, and even attack IDF. These are not decent, moral people (not all settlers, probably, but many). Someday, you'll have to reabsorb these people into your country. They'll cause more problems than Pal refugees would. They should be brought under control as soon as possible to minimize future problems.

for your opinion. Israel too has Arabs living in her society and so does Europe. Why only the Arabs stubbornly hold on to the idea that Muslim societies have to remain "Muslim only"? Guess what: what you wrote is considered here in the West as "racist" and "apartheid" and "intolerant". I really do not support such racism, though it seems to paradoxically be quite alright to all those Westerners, who support your cause and bash multi-ethnic and multi-cultural Israel. I wonder whether they really know what they are doing? Maybe I should ask Swiss Dino?

Zealotry is destroying Israel. The nation has been taken captive by people with an insatiable greed for land, an intolerance for diversity and a commitment to the use of violence. All this is being done under an obscene belief that God has empowered them. There is little wonder why the responsible nations of the world are distancing themselves. The USA, EU, and Russia cannot afford to support a rogue nation obsessed with advancing one people over all others.

"furthermore the IDF killed VERY, VERY, VERY FEW children throwing rocks" Even one is too many. And you and I both know the IDF kills teenagers throwing stones...

the IDF has been instrumental in creating the settlers' attitude in the first place. And now they are crying wolf. Israeli society is nothing but a mostly thugs, anyway. After 60 years of acting like morons it is not surprising what is taking place now, and how ugly and decisive it will become. As the saying goes: you made your bed, now you lay on it...

We know these apologists for occupation and racism make a career out of lying and misreprentation. But here, this one writing under my name, really does prove to readers that the cause they defend is lost. This kind of drivel is all they have left. Their contempt spares no group. It is the only universalistic thing about these misreprenters. All they have remaining in their bag of dirty tricks.

Just a reminder,israel has NO constitution.

"I will only state again that far too many Palestinian children have been shot and killed for throwing rocks..."etc (Joseph Blough) You lie. You never stated that before. You stated "the IDF is SO QUICK to shoot and even kill (Palestinian children)...furthermore the IDF killed VERY, VERY, VERY FEW children throwing rocks. It is during the war that children died... which is another thing altogether! Furthermore, you never mention how many children they killed in Israel during the suicide terror not to speak the massacre at Maalot. Hey, Joe Blough, you lie! In addition that you don't know what you are talking about.

That interesting. When Palestinians do this, they are shot on site, no questions asked, no investigations needed. When Settlers do it, you just call them names. I guess Israel is a democracy.

Attacking IDF soldiers is new for these thugs. They have made numerous attacks on both Arab and Jewish homosexuals in the past several months alone.

As for hatred, I suggest you begin looking in your own community of Kiryat Araba. Baruch Goldstein certainly provided an exemplary model for that vice. I suggest further you speak to the IDF member who was hit with steones and referred to these squatters by a more appropriate term.

Hatred is unhealthy and helps no one. You've really lost it this time, I'm afraid.

The Altalena tragedy was created by Begin and his followers who tried to import arms to the EZEL units outside the common army head quarters and against it's instructions. It was simply an act of rebelion. The result was a tragedy only from that day on we had one and only one army obeying the orders of the army HQ and within the general policy as defined by the temporary government (with BG on top). The trouble is that we have not applied the same logics to the settlements in the ocupied west bank.

...all settlers will be called terrorists and the PA will call in a strong pan-Arabic military peace force, which will go after the settler thugs. In 2006 the IDF had no chance against Hezbollah, so the settler problem will be solved rather easily.

Scum is the result and sits on top of the garbage.

we didn't want them we fought to keep them out israels brought them israel funded them .you got to be crazy if you think the will be pals .we don't need forigners to come and be forced on us when we take the west back back they must leave their infultrators and are a burdun to arabs and to the state of israel

The answer is: Kneecap a few; they will desist then.

And let them have a go at it. Raze it and let the these flowers of zionism walk back to Israel where they can serve time in prison. That's the only way to deal these thugs. Then subsidise new housing for the palestinians who will build their own settlement there.

Hypocrisy, as usual.

The settlement movement is quick becoming a constitutional and military problem. Too many stories of beligerence toward neigboring Palestinian villages and now an attack on the IDF. I think that a story such as this one could be the catalyst for a u-turn on the "freedom" of settlers to think they can do whatever they want. I am a Jew and a firm supporter of Israel...but I cannot condone the erratic behavior of the the modern settler movement espaecially if it is going to weaken the constitutional and moral fibre of the country.

Lawbreakers have two choices, follow the laws and the orders of the soldiers and police or pay the consequences for their own actions. These settler scum seem to think that they can flout our laws and get away with it, but I can tell you that Israelis as a whole are just as fed up with their criminal antics as the rest of the world and support an even tougher stance be taken to bring those responsible to justice.

Rather than tossing around insults like someone who already knows that they have lost the argument as some resort to doing, I will only state again that far too many Palestinian children have been shot and killed for throwing rocks even at heavily armored IDF vehicles, yet I can find not one single instance of the IDF shooting, much less killing, any settlers for doing exactly the same thing, not even when they were being attacked by settler scum who were throwing acid on them, but if you can intelligently explain such an obvious IDF bias towards shooting only Palestinian protesters who commit such acts, I am all ears. And yes, I do know what is happening in the occupied territories every day, and it is precisely what is happening that makes myself and many others so sick.

settlers who attack soldiers are scum. Fair enough. What about settlers who attack palestinians. Are they scum too, to be treated as such or just frustrated?

"Israel is fragmenting". Dino announces there will be here a civil war. Durson announces bloodshed. Are these messages of human caring humanists, who claim for the rights of Palestinians? Are they claiming for peace? You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to see the hate.

be in jail. There are only a few hundred such extremists in the whole West Bank and they should be handled without gloves. The way posters from Ariel and Efrat try to defend them and even attack the IDF's behaviour is inexcusable. As for ignorant posters like Dino, who say that Israel is afraid of peace because it would bring civil war, have you ever heard the word 'Altalena"?

"why the IDF is so quick to shoot and even kill Palestinians, and yet is so lenient to settlers when their attacks actually injure soldiers." (J. B.) "so quick to shoot" eh Jo? How quick was the IDF shooting Jo? Have you ever counted how many times the Pals are throwing stones? Do you know what's happening there every day? In all towns and places?

If this attack, for instance, was carried out by Palestinian villagers or farmers the result will definitely be some dead Palestinians. Following that, the IDF would announce provoking claims that those have attacked them...

What do you do when you create a monster and that monster turns on you? It's really a ancient and classic story repeated many times in history as well as literature. In the end, it will not be solved without a very high level leader such as Ghandi or Mandella. Bibi is strictly a street thug in a suit and he will be carried along by the current. He will not make currents of his own. This IDF/settler violence is only just beginning. It will get bloodier as time goes by.

At least I have had the same experience. We were astonished at the violent behavior It took an awful amount of restraint. Not to treat them any different to any civilian whether Jewish or of other faiths. One can be sure, the continuous attacks by these individuals will someday end up with bloodshed. Only the rigorous discipline by both officers and soldiers have been tried far too many times. To my fellow comrades in ZAHAL, I wish you MAZAL VE LISHMOR.!CHAVAL LAREDET AL GOVA SHEL HA CHANTARISHIM BARBARIM. BEHAZLACHA. Good day.

Attacking our soldiers should result in a mandatory prison sentence. That being said, settlements, like Tel Aviv, are on Jewish land. Giving away our land is not smart. What has it gotten us? Oh, you ask why I say Tel Aviv is a settlement? Just ask the PALS. Look at their maps. They don't peace. They want piece by piece by piece until all of Israel is an illegal settlement. When should we retreat to the 1948 lines? Or the 1860 lines? Yes, arrest the criminals. Send them to prison. But let's negotiate from strength.

The "Senior Officer' who is afraid to give his name must understand what organization has given the Settlers total license to commit any crime against anyone. The IDF is that organization.

How odd that the deadly stones were not met by deadly gunfire as is so often the case when similar stones are thrown by Palestinian children. While I am glad nobody was killed, it does beg the question as to why the IDF is so quick to shoot and even kill Palestinians, and yet is so lenient to settlers when their attacks actually injure soldiers. Are the Palestinians so much stronger that there stones pose a greater threat?

1)either Israel starts negotiations with the Pal-adm. about the settlers* position in the WB: like becoming potential Pal-citizens and hence succumbing control over them to PA-adm. -or- 2)the land these settlements are located in will be exchanged for land from Israel proper, which requires immediate defining of the final borders at this stage before PA-statehood already, especially bearing in mind PA*s 2011 decl. of independence. This takes flexibility and ability to bend from the Pal-politicians. The settlers are not Israel*s problem alone, but a separate 3rd party issue betw. Israel-PA. The solution to the problem is political and needs be dealt with as soon as possible so that the settlers know their position and Israel needs not consume her energy and resources on them. For the settlers to learn where they will stand *ll calm them down. They must accept to become potential Pal-citizens, for the two state solution is inevitable, bc we want a Jewish Israel.

These "salt of the earth" are salt on our wounds.

You guys do not have a clue.Settlers just want to live on land where there ancestors lived .If the people around them leave them alone they will leave them alone.And unlike the settling of America Australia South America etc the Jews have a link to the land in fact Jews have lived in the land for over five thousand years.It is people like us in Australia America South America etc who are reaally on land where we do not belong.So stop this nonsense about Israel and clean up yuor own backyards.I live in Australia but Europeans have been here only two hundred years or so same goes for numerous other countrys wake up to yourselves i can admit to being an invader in this land how come you guys in Australia New Zealand South America etc are too gutless to you guys sicken me.To all Israelis ignore what these idiots say you are a people to be admired.

The settlers do not blow themselves up and try to take women and children with them.The settlers do not have gunmen waiting for an oportune moment to shoot soldiers.The settlers do not plant bombs to kill soldiers.The settlers love life over death.The setllers do not bring their kids up to die as martyrs.And finally the settlers do not want every arab land free of muslims.

just as Ahmedinijad predicted. We need to encourage our governments to increase the pressure on Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories. The settlers are acting just as predicted.

Settlers are scum? I'm shocked to find out there is gambling in Casablanca.Israel will be devoured from within by these right wing, religious terrorists, and their American financial enablers.

Rotten politics and religion are at the root of this, and all of Israel's "existential threats". The real tererorists are the fanatical Zionists grabbing for the territory which is NOT Israel, belonging to Israel's neighbours. This politico-religious Israeli corruption blights the entire globe, not just honest Jews. Time to call a spade a spade, and call these politico-religous nuts to account and to trial!

Ya, that's a good word to describe them. Israel Shahak was right.

why are these people called such a benign name as 'settlers'? they are invaders. nothing less.

Israel tore down the houses of the entire Gaza settlement movement to try make peace with terrorists. It never worked. Surprise Surprise

These people are out of control. Can't the government see that? Their price-tag policy on Arabs, their thuggishness to Jews who don't agree with them, the way they react to soldiers who don't do exactly what they want, it's all the same problem. They (not all settlers, but those who carry out the price tag policy) ARE OUT OF CONTROL! They have hi-jacked the country and are holding it to ransom.

But it was yours! Of course... There is one thing that EVERY Israeli, Right, Left, or whatever, must know: the IDF is just as sacred to all of us as is Israel itself. Hurting a soldier is hurting Israel! Obviously you and I believe the same in despite of our differing political positions (as of late only)...

It is fairly clear to me that the govt. chose Y.H. to instigate a scene. Shame on them!

that throw stones at the IDF every Friday and injure soldiers. How come we don't read quotes from anonomous Israel Defense Forces officers when it comes to them?

CBK: "In all fairness the IDF wanted to protect the residents but these laws preventing Jews from moving around Judea and Samaria" Notice that Chaim talks about "Jews"? CBK: "If Israelis want to visit a mikvah in Israel they must be allowed and more so protected from terrorist attacks." Notice that Chaim is now talking about "Israelis"? Chaim deftly flicks from one to the other (he probably doesn't even realize he is doing it) when it is convenient for his argument. As in ..... "Jews from moving around Judea and Samaria" The prohibition relates to their CITIZENSHIP (they are "citizens of the occupying power"), and that prohibition could not care less about their ETHNICITY. CBK: "If Israelis want to visit a mikvah in Israel" Yitzhar isn't "in Israel", Chaim, and even the government of Israel admits that i.e. it merely claims the "right" to treat Yitzhar AS IF IT WERE IN ISRAEL even though it cheerfully admits that IT ISN'T IN ISRAEL.

the idf officer is absolutely correct. these fanatical kids should be locked up for a good many years. their yeshivas should be disbanded. they are outside the legitimate political fabric of the jewish state. they pose a threat to soldiers and civilians alike.

Two sides to every fight. Maybe a soldier hit first. "Injured" = bloody nose. come on. One officer out of how many?

Does anyone have Avigdor Lieberman's take on this incident yet? That should make for an insightful analysis.

This fine young soldier who unlike the ultra orthadox is doing his duty will remember this indenpendace day for the rest of his life. They should witdraw the army and let the settler thugs protect themselves then we shall see who crys.

....unavoidable. In fact, maybe that's one of the main reasons, why Israel is so much afraid of peace...???

I don't see much difference between this type of settlers and islamic extremists. And I don't understand why the Israeli right wing doesn't see how this (relatively) small minority is destroying the reputation of Israel (and to some extent Jews). They are an embarrasment.

Those bums live of the charity of the State, hiding behind the name of G-d not to work,not to serve the IDF,and only to make trouble...Make them pay for their support.Let them work and serve the IDF like every other decent Israeli.We have enough fanatics.Israel needs helping manpower

but that's a lesson that the extremists under the settlers are unwilling to learn. Maybe time for the army to teach them a serious lesson?

Not necessary to say anything else...

Don't need to waste time on such extremists, violent people. Just close down this yeshiva and limit movements of such people into that settlement.

yeshiva students should be the ones to promote peace and jusice and understanding. unfortunately they promote hate and they are an embarassement to israel and the jews. they remind me of fanatic islamists.

or treat them as the would Palestinians protesting that their land has been stolen.

...The settlers will do it all by themselves..." Indeed, this is no joke! Iran is one (big) enemy, yes. But the settlers are creating a monster enemy - the whole world!

Therein lies the origin of the conflict. They want a conflict with the 'settlers' and invariably succeed at it.

Illegal settlements harm future of Israel. They breed extremism such as that portrayed by the Yeshiva boys.

It seems that the confusion caused by our Israeli leaders have even confused the directives of our soldiers. In all fairness the IDF wanted to protect the residents but these laws preventing Jews from moving around Judea and Samaria due to the fear of Arab attacks is a human rights violation. If Israelis want to visit a mikvah in Israel they must be allowed and more so protected from terrorist attacks.

It'd be interesting to see what they have say about who the "bad guys" are.

or because of any attacks against the state

this is what israel wants this is what it gets your losing control

No one arrested - the arrogant out-of-control settlers can act with total impunity.

...to ignore the law and follow their own interests.

I think that the army should pull out from the settles area and let the settlers themselves protect their homes and family.....If I was in the army, I will refuse to protect them while they try to hurt me..

Picking on those poor settlers who were just out for a nature walk. At least they didn't shoot them like they have been doing to Palestinian "stone throwers". Why not?

The thugs of Israel romantically called "settlers" are not going to leave once its called for, and it will be called for soon. Possibly some may retreat and be lawful citizens into Israel proper but I predict many of these people will disobey and attempt to challenge the government. I foresee many of them being expelled since they will be nothing but trouble. These criminals have been left unchecked for far too long and need to be retrained for civility. Once returned to their host countries they will be like Iranian or Iraqi dissidents plotting and planning their return to power. They will not give up. A thieves mind will always be set on theft.

evacuate the spring pool near Yithar . The radio said: the spring pool was in an area defined as a closed military zone. The order was carried out unwisely (?). Sometimes during arabs violence in Jerusalem , the Temple Mount is restricted to all : except for women and men of 50 years old both of mohamedan doctrine followers . Similary at the spring pool near Yitzhar , the order was carried out unwisely : 1) there was no public disordely conduct (unlike arabs violence in and around Temple Mount as mentioned earlier). 2)there was no immediate life threatening situation . 3) there was no need to take preventive steps since there was no arabs provocations 9at that time)that the pioneers couldn't handle . 4) And it was Israel independence Day , (a factor that the soldiers should have been sensitive to). Our soldiers , carrying out IDF orders, must not be detached from reality, environment, local traditions, costums etc...

...unless the Israeli government takes firm action and dismantles the illegal settlements before the settler thugs start a civil war... Never mind Iran. The settlers will do it all by themselves...

You always prate about how stones are deadly weapons which can do serious harm and advocate the IDF use maximum force against those who throw them.May I assume you want the IDF to use rubber bullets, tear gas and live fire against settlers (as you do with Palestinians)? Since obviously you are only interested in the welfare of the soldiers (and not of their attackers) this makes sense. Please reply.