Longtime settler leader quits settler council over ideological dispute
Pinchas Wallerstein criticism drew fire for his disapproval of IDF soldiers protesting settlement evacuation.
By Chaim Levinson Tags: Israel news West BankLongtime settler council secretary general Pinchas Wallerstein resigned from his position after 31 years on Sunday, citing ideological differences with other settler leaders.
Recently, a dispute had sparked between Wallerstein and settler council chairman Dani Dayan over the nature of the group's struggle against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to freeze settlement construction.
"The differences between Dani [Dayan] and myself don't stem from ideology but from quantity," Wallerstein told Army Radio following his resignation, adding that he was "confident that the current leadership could continue the struggle against the settlement freeze successfully.
When asked if his resignation was prompted by the rising influence of leaders, such as Har Bracha Yeshiva's status head Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, urging soldiers to refuse orders to evacuate settlements, Wallerstein told Army Radio he didn't "want to name names, because I would still consider him [Rabbi Melamed] a Zionist."
Wallerstein added, however, that he thought the Israeli government was too careful not to fuel the flames between the more extremist settlement.
"There is a buckling in the face of a 'price tag' policy," saying that he thought there was an intention to "avoid internal conflict after the deportation from Gush Katif."
Other personal and ideological disagreements between Wallerstein and fellow leaders were made apparent in the last months, namely after Israel Defense Force soldiers hung signs saying they would refuse orders to evacuate West Bank settlements.
Wallerstein had denounced the soldier's behavior after the event, a decision which drew harsh criticism from the head of the Elon Moreh Yeshiva, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, whose students participated in the protest.
Following the severe criticism, the settler council secretary general had considered resignation, but stayed on board in order to help lead the struggle against the planned West Bank settlement freeze.
Wallerstein had served in different posts in the settler council since 1979, and is one of the group's most recognizable members.
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The actual "LOONS" are the belligerent settlers and the Zionist Rabbi that supports them. The moderate view that Wallerstein stands for takes the "high road" against the "land grab by" by this coalition that is being questioned by the rest of the free world, except the neocons that cater to the demands of AIPEC.
You go to pains to point out that Wallerstein has left the council because of ideological disputes, yet the very first Wallerstein quote you cite clearly says he did not leave for ideological reasons, rather reasons of "quantity". Please decide which is true, this is poor poor journalism.
Israel presents itself to the world as a secular democracy, where people of all religions have equal rights. But in reality, it?s just a theocracy that discriminates against anyone not Jewish, especially those who follow the religion of Islam.
You know the end is near when soemone like Wallerstein isn't crazy enough for the other lunes.