IDF soldier on leave attacks group of Peace Now activists in Tel Aviv
Soldier from elite Givati Brigade attacked activists passing out flyers near Tel Aviv's central train station; Peace Now to file formal complaint against soldier.
By Yaniv KubovichAn Israel Defense Forces soldier who was on leave attacked a group of left-wing activists from the Peace Now movement while they were passing out flyers in Tel Aviv on Friday.
Tens of activists from Peace Now, which advocates a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, gathered at Tel Aviv's Arlozorov Train Station Friday morning and handed out stickers and flyers to people passing by. A soldier from the Israel Defense Force's Givati Bridade approached the group and began tearing down posters that the activists had put up.
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Leftist protesters in Tel Aviv on Saturday, June 5, 2010. |
| Photo by: Nir Keidar |
When the activists tried to calm the soldier down, he attacked them physically as well as with stones. Police arrived on the scene and attempted to subdue the soldier.
Asher Albo, a Peace Now activist who witnessed the attack said the soldier began to attack them while we were hanging signs.
"I told him to stop and that I am a reserve-duty soldier," Albo said. "He attacked us, threw one of the people in our group on the ground and threatened him with a rock. At a certain point, he began to throw stones at the activists."
Peace Now Secretary General Yariv Oppenheimer was present at the attack and said the movement intends to file a formal complaint against the soldier.
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we appreciate the enormous contribution of the jewish towns in yesha to our physical and spritual security,but the voting booth is the place to make statements.this is definitely not the way.big mistake.
just because peace activists throw stones at Israeli soldiers at Bilin, and attack them, bar them from cafes in tel Aviv and Haifa, does not mean that an Israeli soldier should tear up their posters. They should be stoic and discuss the peace process with the activists and help them into shelters if rockets come down. Peace activists are people dedicated to peace, pacificim, love and understanding. Soldiers should march into battle holding hands and singing peace songs, not upsetting others. I would recommend that the IDF models itself on the Salvation Army.
Brave soldier! Stupid, Israeli, leftists TRAITORS.
Zions military state respect nothing. If they are democrats I'm Santa Clauss!! Left wing x right wings died with the end of cold war. Just and only in the zion military state you can hear the world "Leftists "! Is like use "terrorism" to cover real terror acts like the ones did by the killers from the Givat Brigade. Nothing but shame.
Did anybody check how these traitors prevented him from tearing down their traitor signs? I bet they used force against him which allows him to defend himself against an angry mob!! Haaretz did not ask independent witnesses but rather choose to hear only on side of the story shame on you!! The lefties are no pacifists they are radical and violent people who hate Israel and their fellow Jews.
Then it appears that it's lost any values it once had, and has become a cesspool of ignorance!
Here in the U.S there is a term "going postal", typically it means a disgruntle worker out of some sort of frustration goes nuts, and on some occasions kills a bunch of co-workers. This sounds like a milder form of going postal. I'm sure he broke some civil laws, arrest him, take him to court and let the chips fall where they may. Beyond that, this is a non-story, those who would draw some negative conclusion or say it reflects in some larger negative way on Israel are idiots. He's nothing more than a rogue cop, and those who glorify his action, out of frustration with the anti-Israel crowd, are wrong. I too, am frustrated by the anti-Israel crowd, but this isn't the way to discredit them.
Give this soldier a medal!
?Shame on you, soldier! Living on illegal settlement? Shame on you once again!
These pathetic "useful idiots" from the peace now camp need some shaking up. I doubt it will help but it is important for them to know that they are despised by rational thinking people and if I would have been there I would have told them what I think of them. They nauseate me..they sicken me...they are a danger to Jews and Israel...they make fools of themselves...and they side with the terrorists and haters of Israel. Everyone wants peace..this is not the question..but sane thinking people do not want to destroy Israel like peace now does. If they get their way and Israel succumbs to the lies and trickery of the arab world these knee jerks fools will be the first to cry foul when they are beaten and attacked by palestinians. Just look at what happened to Daniel Pearl..what more do you need to see.? My hat is off to the soldier..he defends these malcontents with his life..and he understands the battle that Israel faces....crazy world...and the leftist Jews are the craziest of all.
either the leftist jews and most of the planet are "crazy," or you're wrong. which is more likely?
Great post. Agree with all you so eloquently state. These misguided lefties are clueless to reality. Hamas is rolling on the floor from laufgter at their folly. Did they EVER wonder to ask, Where is the Arab "Peace Now" ??? If they believe in their misguided ways so much, where is the reciprocity??? One party alone can't make peace. Can one person play tennis with himself?? Impossible. What a morally void, misguided bunch.
did anyone from the rabid right leaving comments about who started it miss the part about Asher Albo, a Peace Now activist, stating he was a reserve-duty officer? why would he lie?
who are funded by EU and Ford Foundation that are totally against Jewish state Peace Now does have "Jewish Activists" per say who long time ago sold their Jewish souls for a Buck or a EURO
ohhh, you mean as opposed to true jewish souls like jack abramoff and bernie madoff.
The unusual ratio of for and against for this article stinks of a organized right-wingattack again the Talkbacks of HaAretz. One might expect no less from the rabid right.
Good Job! And now they want to "pursue" this soldier who risks his life to protect you from the evil that surrounds you? Why don't you peace now activists go protest by hizbullah or Hamas. Lets see what they will do to you when this hero soldier isn't there to protect you.
When the hell are you going to realize that there is an absence of security because there's an absence of peace? THEY'RE doing YOU a favor AND ensuring that when the time comes, not everyone will think Israelis hate, occupy, and vote in racists. You should thank them Devin. Time to grow up and stop hating.
This is the beauty of a democracy...where people can protest about anything they feeel like protesting as long as they are not breaking any laws without been afraid of being attcked or arrested. This soldier should be punished for assault.
From Montreal, Kol Hakavod soldier you are my hero.
Mr. Silber, If you were attacked in Montreal for your beliefs,you would protest and call in the law. PN acts with the law, and somehow, you support lawbreakers in Israel? Speech that contradicts your set ideas is not evil. ev
Send them to gaza to demonstrate!
Thank you soldier! You are my hero!
I can't believe the number of comments supporting this act of assault. Simply disgusting.
Herzl witnessed the anti-semitic mobs calling for Dreifus' blood and was shocked that even in France this could occur. He concluded that Jews needed a national home because fear, ignorance and scapegoating portion of human nature would always pick out the Jew as a target. Well Zionism certainly normalized the Jewish people, and now parts of its right wing feel free to engage in the same combination of fear, ignorance and scapegoating that motivated the anit-Dreifusards, except that their target of choice is Peace Now. The nobility of Republican France was that they were ultimately able to smack down that portion of human nature. The shame of Weimer Germany is that they failed in the same task. It is ironic to see Israel put to the same test. I have no doubt that they will pass it, but you couldn't tell that from a lot of the talkbackers here.
GOOD!
News? An idiot in his private capacity ripped some posters. Is this news? Was the mention of the IDF necessary or just another automatic IDF-bashing response from Haaretz? Did he say something mean too?
as he should be.
An army of liars claimed soldier started it .... I was there ....
With reasonable belief that severe bodily injury or death is possible = The stone thrower is dead ..
1. This is not 1968 2. Try to stone a cop now - You will be face down getting cuffed or shot . 3. In 1968 it was no problem to call police pigs and flip the finger at them - Try it now and you will be arrested .. 4.There are many people in New Jersey who were riddled with bullets for much less. The Guardsman at Kent State murdered 4 students that were more than 100 yards away and not even facing them. Forget helmeted riot police facing 1968 anti war protestors. Walk up to a cop in New Jersey and stone him and after 2 warnings you will be shot ... Know the facts before you make statements .
i would have spit on this guys should i had the chance. Peace now is a collection of self hating Jews and Arabs.
Guess the left-wing activists got lucky this time.
Love
You put your life on the line - and this is the support you get - the peace now folks remind me of U.S. citizens disgraceful behavior during the Vietnam war
The peple in the U.S. who protested the Vietnam war were ultimately proved correct. The fall of Vietnam to communism did not mean that all of Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Indonesia would follow suit. American intervention in the Vietnamese civil war was a disaster for the U.S. and for Vietnam. Hundreds of thousands of Americans and Vietnamese died for no good reason, and the Vietnam of today, which like China has a strong capitalist componant, would have been no different had the U.S. simply left them alone. The U.S. soldiers, most were draftees, were asked to put their lives on the line by a deeply flawed U.S. policy, not by the Vietnam war protesters. Who is it, then, who was being disrespectful of the soldiers? Should the Vietnam vets be grateful for the "support" that got them killed and maimed because Washington policy makers got it wrong? Peace Now asks whether the Givati brigade, berets and all, is being asked to do the same for a flawed Israeli foreign policy that stupidly supports settlers just as the U.S. stupidly supported of a corrupt South Vietnamese government. Before you accuse Peace Now of being disrespectful to soldiers, you'd better consider very carefully who will be responsible for the deaths and maiming of soldiers and civilians if Israel's settlement policy turns out to be dead wrong.
In Iran, the police beats up people who express their opinion. Not in Israel. This soldier must be dismissed from the IDF.
What a disgrace... trying to destroy people peacefully, democratically expressing their opinion. This man is unworthy of serving in the IDF.
excuse me allegra but what you have to say about this soldier has no importance what so ever. Words from a hater..a person who wants to see Israel destroyed hold no value. If you only had one ounce of decency you would not covet terrorists.
An Israel Defense Forces soldier who was on leave attacked a group of left-wing activists from the Peace Now movement while they were passing out flyers in Tel Aviv on Friday
What exactly does the fact that 1 soldier on leave attacking an activist have to do with Israeli democracy? One man snapped and considering the attitudes Peace Now has toward Israeli solders its understandable. The army will investigate this matter, they guy will be given some kind of punishment for unprofessional conduct or something and thats it.
Browse through the hate mail here and think again about 'one man' ...
throwing stones eh? I like it....peace activists dont like it when they are thrown towards them, but when their thrown towards israelis by palestinians its called activism, right? hypocrites.
Do any of you haters actually know what Peace Now does? Do any of you know how many soldiers and ex-soldiers are members? Clearly you're motivated by the same ignorance as this soldier. He attacked civilians whilst in uniform. He should go to jail for a long time. Totally unacceptable behaviour. Even if you despise Peace Now nobody is above the law. If you love Israel then you should demand that people respect the law. If you don't like democracy, if you don't like people having another opinion than your own then YOU are the traitors to this country and the Jewish people. FASCISTS ARE THE ETERNAL ENEMY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE
Who hates the rule of law? Those who petition the court , taking the democratic route, or those who curse and beat people. PN may be wrong in its thinking , or NOT, but why can't Israelis accept that it cares about saving Israel, ( not Israel shalem), and takes an honest and respectable way to go about it?
What is 'respectable' regarding the PN? Is respectable to undermine your own country while it is at war? Israel is at WAR that was declared by Lebanon, Iraq, and the rest of the arab league thats still in force except for Egypt and Jordan.
the soldier's attack on the PN demonstrators reminded me of the fury with which many religious people respond to questioning of their religions. Maybe Israelis, like the religious, secretly harbor serious doubts about their own myths, and so react with fury and violence when someone exacerbates their misgivings
Then according to many TB and perceived general world opinion against Israel, they (Israel) are very VERY strong! Send more "peace" flotillas, go ahead....
If the posters said "IDF are Nazis" then I can see why he has done that. Of course he will have to pay the price anyway.
But sometimes , when commando units put their lives on line , such a fringe naive and very dangerous thinking might get under their skin . But Jews do not hurt other Jews , they only disagree to death .
Try telling that to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's family....how soon we forget.
reading the talkback here sure explains a lot about the tolerence of the right. If someone disagrees they are fair game for volence. I guess free speech is not something the right agrees with. I guess volence is the only way they know how to make their point.
i think that's the most depressing thing of all: people on the right do NOT support civil rights. Many or most apparently would be quite content living in a dictatorship...at least initially
Why would you call for sanctions on your own country? Change from within. Traitor is heavy word, Peace Now is just a joke. Good job bro! Can't wait for the youtube video
The soldiers are working for peace, while the activists are supporting the terrorists' war. Therefore they are in conflict with each other.
War is peace... Waiting for Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength next, all the mainstays of the far right.
A bunch of naive people,hell bent on causing trouble,they have no idea about peace and one thing is for sure,they will not have it by their stupid behaviour.
These people have for years offended normal good Jews with their racist slurs against their fellow people!! If they want to openly call for a boycot of every Israeli Jew they should not be surprised if people disagree with them. Again as usual the lefties cry and cry. And above all they want the state they want to be boycotted to defend them demanding it to be boycotted? Chutzpa or not?
so, then, are white south africans that protested against apartheid traitors?
I had the great privelege of hearing Ruth Gavison speak a few nights ago. She said that the greatest threat to Israel's democracy at the moment is that the Right and the Left are attempting to silence one another.
does she have a direct link to the absolute truth...how pathetic, try thinking for yourself
I am wondering if you even know who Ruth Gavison is. Perhaps you need to do some research. She certainly does hers.
This is really slanted and disingenuous. As every poll has shown, the vast majority of Israeli's support a two state solution. At the same time, the vast majority of Israeli's do NOT support Peace Now. There is a reason for this. Peace Now is not some moderate voice that "advocates a two-state solution". They are a hard-left group that Israeli's abhor (with good reason).
Now those activists can get a tiny taste of the kind of violence they provoke against Jewish settlers on a regular basis. Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house (mind the pun.)
Jewish settlers living in illegal settlements in occupied territory destroy any hope for peace at the expense of the whole Jewish people. Hail to the brave activists of Peace Now who love peace more than stolen land.
israel lost the high ground or when two wrongs make a right. Israel is showing its true colors one disgruntled IDF soldier at a time...
Was it illegal for Jordan to capture the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1948 and cleanse them completely of Jews? Was it illegal for Jordan to attack Israel again in 1967? It was only illegal for Jews to reclaim and develop their properties and all become known as, "settlers?" Even the ones whose families have been there for centuries?
Two-state? But Arabs (invaders from Arabia) already have 22 states, 2 in Palestine, Jordan and Gaza. Maybe Europe should give them their Al Andaluz (Iberia), under British (Gibraltar, an Arabic word, unlike Palestine...), Spanish and Portuguese occupation.
Gilad Shalit.
"Soldier from elite Givati Brigade" - Haaretz It seems that the Givati Brigade is often mentioned when misconduct is claimed. Summer Rains, Hot Wind, Cast Lead. Perhaps the purple beret causes misconduct. More likely it is the unit's culture.
if nachal had been listed here i'd more surprised
Come and live with us in piece.
IDF terrorist caught red-handed throwing stones and attacking Israeli citizens get off free. Why?
Supporting Palestinians by incitement against Israelis will never bring peace. You are on the wrong side of the Tracks mission. Stop offending us by calling us for 'Pals'.
"Peace now!" is a secret code for "launch rockets now!" IDF should shoot them all.
the only thing more depressing than the brutal, primitive sentiments expressed in your post are the many thumbs-up it will receive. if it were up to people like you there'd be no such thing as democracy. We'd all be living in theocracies, which is to say dictatorships
he bad boy. big deal.
Quite different from Israel's neighbors isn't it.Can you imagine people in Syria or Egypt to distribute flyers with anti governmental messages? Since you attack all Israel for action of one of its citizens can I criticize all Muslims for 9/11 now?
Because of media like Haaretz people outside become racist against israelis, because Israel protects itś terrorists and racists like Aviv Reshef, if you published their names just like you do with Arabs we all would appreciate both side of israeli society.
His name was supposed to be kept secret because he's not Arab so what underground connections did you use to get his name,Sherlock?
These Peace Now "idiots" are people who think contrary to you big brain
Asher Albo is a member of peace Now and is also a reserve soldier. Well there is a conflict of interest. As for making a complaint, suck it up Peace Now. Youre organization has been pushing the buttons pon all ISraelis now for some time, and when someone reacts to your spew you cry to mommy saying I will make a formal complatin. No one who is in teh military or reserve should be permitted to be a member of any peace organization as it conflicts with their duties to protect teh people. Such Hypocrisy from Peace Now. And now you all stand back looking wide eyed and innicent wondering wny this soldier went berserkers on you. Perhaps it is your actions and slavish devotion to Arab causes that got someone he knows killed. May this be a lesson to you that teh army perhaps does not like peace now and I wagers neither do others. Peace now actions are destroying teh countries fabric
What do you expect from brain washed soldiers ? The IDF soldiers are permantently mistreating Palestinians without being punished . Therefore it is no problem for them to attack those , who try to remind the Israelis that the Pals are humans too with all the rights the Jews are demanding for themselves.
Sounds like the dude cracked. While that doesn't condone his actions, military training breaks you down and then builds you back up, as they say. I've seen some pretty offensive signs put up, and the two together could be a bad combination.
Oh, and for those who don't know, PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Left wing is destroying America too. This soldier should be set free....he is absolutely right... he has been fighting to save Israel... NOT destroy Iisrael
your reality is something out of a bad acid trip
What planet are you living in ....dear Esther
Thanks, conservative christian- you do think all Jews will go to hell when they die, right? Next time I disagree with some conservatives protesting outside an abortion clinic or against one of Obama's policies, I'll take a cue from you and start throwing rocks at them, sound fair?
Absolutely correct! There is nothing else to say.
More soldiers (and citizens) like this are needed. Let this bunch of leftist lunatics and potential traitors to know what most Israelis think about them.
mob rule. well done. the victims of the mob become victimizers. bravo
Hello, Alex, where does your enormous hatred come from? Do you think it is better to attack somebody instead of discussing matters with him? Is all this a jewish kind of behaviour noone outside Israel is familiar to?
It is a kind of addiction for Israeli military to attack “peace activists”. It should be a lot easier than attacking real professional soldiers.
You, with the name of a Jewish prophet, and a Turkish surname: How many Kurdish men, women and children have your country gassed today?
While Turkey has in the past, and continues to abuse the Kurds, you're thinking of Saddam.
All decent people should defend the Land of Israel against these traitors. They defile the land by their presence. The solidier should be commended.
Why is it that people like Fivish cannot see that PN advocates are just as much convinced that they are saving the land of Israel as are soldiers who fight under orders ( unlike the brutish one who attacked the demonstrators). Not being able to see the other side of an argument is fanaticism.
He did an outstanding job,it shows how much he cares about his country,Israel protect your soldiers. LOVE ISRAEL
"...Peace Now, which advocates a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict..." Now look at the banner in the photo: "Time for sanctions against Israel" Yup, Peace Now "just" advocates for a two-state solution.
...The issue is "...he attacked them physically as well as with stones". Acceptable behaviour for a soldier in Israel, is it?
Why there's no demo under such a parole on the streets of Oslo ,Pierre ?
the transit-trains through (Transit-tågen du vet), stopped Jewish Doctors to enter Sweden in the end of the 30s with antisemitic demonstrations amongst students in Uppsala (Bollhusmötet) and is one of the few contries that still has Juden-Saus outside on of the Major churches (i Uppsala igen - antisemitsmens nuvarande högborg i Norden) - got the hints "Absolute" ??
why on earth are we in britian sending aid to this tinpot country - they have no more respect for human rights as Iran Saudi Arabia and other middle east terror regimes
Britain? Isn't that the country that attacked far away Iraq twice over the last twenty years, without ever being attacked or threatened by that country? And isn't Britain the country that attacked far away Afghanistan too? When did Afghanistan fire rockets on your country? Do you know how many men, women and children your army of professional soldiers (killing for money) and Gurkha mercenaries (ditto) have killed there? And isn't Britain the country that occupied Northern Ireland? And went to war over stolen Malvinas, in far, far away South Atlantic? And isn't Britain the country occupying Gibraltar, from friendly EU member Spain?
Britian with a capital B if you please. And just who is "we"? Not in my name!
Check you fact, Andi, Britain does not send aid to Israel. In fact, our economy is in better shape than yours. You, and your EU buddies, only send aid to the Palestinians. And what a wise investment that has been, eh?
Which AID is Britain giving Israel? what a laugh!
You in Britain? Sending aid to Israel??? Are you serious? Britain is not sending any aid to Israel. And as for you, most probably, you and your whole family are sitting on a dole, financed also from the taxes paid by British Jews. Shut up, British Ali!
To No. 6 "We in Britain: take a look at your own history about human rights and then maybe you wont comment so stupidly.
Britain has done more to f-ck up the middle east than any other country. Every time a Brit opens his mouth about Israel it's a reverse diarrhea. And by the way, I didn't know the arabs in Judea & Samaria & Aza were peace seekers
Soldiers do not and should not have the right to just attack protesters like that without good reason so for that he should be punished in some way. It is though quite understandable why he did it and that is Peace Now are constantly trying to compare IDF soldiers to some kind of SS stormtrooper. When you have a group that treats your people ( soldiers ) like pariahs and criminals then its natural your going to hate these people. This guy obviously sick and tired of Peace Now and their stunts cracked and so attacked this activist. This is just an unfortunate incident nobody was seriously hurt and I am sure there will be an investigation into the conduct of the soldier and the army will decide what action to take and then the matter will be dropped.
"When you have IDF that treats your people ( pals arabs muslims) like garbage and invaders then its natural your going to hate these people. This guy obviously sick and tired of 43 years of occupation and their stunts cracked and so attacked this activist" but u of the same people classify that as terrorism
As a matter of act, many IDF soldiers do not like settlers either.
i've noticed that you're always calling the jews who disagree with you "kapos." YOU and PETER SM and your ilk are the ones who would have made the perfect kapos, because you think only of yourselves
among the kapos ,the way you gather info on those that dare to oppose the Pol Pot Party you're a member of . Don't know if there have been Swedes among the kapos ,but there had been among SS men and among the influx of refugees just after the WW2 there must have been some ,especially among those from the Baltic States,fleeing the Red Army. I wrote about it many times here ,arosing fury of types akin to you ,incensed about me pointing out the pre-war pro-Nazi movement at the root of the Swedish Social Democracy and its Israel-bashing . Now go ,join your co-religionist Dror Feller ,another Good ,Good Kapo ,a pliant chaff under the feet of those who'd gladly sent you "East ,to work"
sorry, i'm an atheist, and i never once felt fury at any of your (mostly callous) posts, just sadness. well, and now a good laugh
My greatest respect goes to these brave Israelis , you are the real heroes !
...and then I realized I didn't know who Walt D considered the "brave Israelis" to be...
I meant the Peace Now demonstators.
What exactly is coming? Sounds like a threat to Peace Now and to the freedom of speech. Poor Israel.
your screen name, "The Law", seems to be totally disassociated from your position since it seems you support a uniformed soldier attacking a citizen handing our leaflets. Oh I get it, it's like calling a really big guy "Tiny"!
Peace now is a joke on liberty and the Nation of ISrael. Wish the entire population would smack the&^(*&% out of them.
well ecucated and democratic people do not agree with you.
Unless they disagree with you at which point they should be smacked down? Seriously, that's the language of the fasict bully boy. You need to look very carefully at what you've become...
Democracy, anyone? Civilized public discourse? Freedom of speech? Welcome to Israel!
And freedom loving too....