Settlers and troops clash as IDF chief eyes better ties
Four arrested, one hurt as troops enter illegal West Bank site to confiscate caravan-carrying truck.
By Haaretz Service and Chaim Levinson Tags: Israel news West Bank Israel settlers IDFA violent clash between settlers and Israeli security forces erupted at a West Bank outpost on Sunday, as Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi called for improved settler-army relations.
"Next year there will be challenges in the sphere of security and possibly in other areas as well," said Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi, in a veiled reference to possible future conflicts over West Bank settlements. "We must work on this together. We all understand the need for this."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly plans to announce a freeze on construction in settlements and the army is gearing up to evacuate dozens of illegal outposts, moves that settlers are likely to furiously resist.
The clash broke out at the West Bank outpost of Havat Gilad, after security forces arrived at the site in order to confiscate a truck, which they suspected of being used to illegally move caravans. The owner of the truck claims that it is only used for his work in a construction company.
Dozens of youths subsequently came to the scene, and prevented the security forces from moving the truck. During an ensuing scuffle, which Israel Radio reported included shoving and cursing, four settler youths were arrested and one was wounded.
Settlers later set a nearby Palestinian olive grove ablaze to protest the incident.
Ashkenazi made his remarks at an IDF Central Command toast marking the Jewish New Year.
At the same event on Sunday, the GOC Central Command, Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni, said he did not expect violence the flare up in the West Bank.
The officer said the year coming to an end had been a good year as far as security was concerned, one that marked an improvement in the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians.
According to Shami, the West Bank is experiencing "wellbeing, prosperity, and freedom of movement."
"We have difficult challenges ahead of us, and we don't yet know how those challenges will effect us," Shami said, adding that the IDF was "prepared for every eventuality - terror, violent flare us, in case those occur."
"It will be easy to tackle those challenges together," Shamni added.
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it's 2009; and the world is completely fed up with illegal occupations, like those you've referenced from back in the late 1930's. and you're absolutely right; NEVER AGAIN! the world isn't going to stand by and let it happen again... so you can either start packing your bags now(preferable)... or wait until they're packed for you(messy).
Israel got to make a show of controlling settlers, and some poor Palestinian farmer's olive trees went up in flames. A win-win for the IDF and Israel.
"West Bank belongs to the Jews, it was always theirs so keep your dirty hands from the WB and don`t play the landlord of the land that is not yours and where you don`t live" Start packing your bags.
God gives and He shall taken away
settlements to the Palestinian state, that's when the the situation will get really interesting.
the owner of the truck would have been severely beaten and arrested. the truck itself would have been destroyed. several of the youth would have been shot; at least one mortally. and a dozen or so would have been "detained". even now, when the monster it helped create has turned on it, the idf treats it with kid gloves.
"That is how the Left, EU and the various Moslem groups justify their not keeping a single agreement - "It wasn`t us, it was the guy behind the screen"." More fool Israel for handing out the welfare...
In NY, the settlers might actually have to pay rent and get jobs. It's easier to collect welfare and play cowboy in the territories.
Move the settlers to Crown Heights, where they'd feel right at home
The only conceivable reason why the police do not arrest, deport or imprison the unruly denizens of these illegal outposts who set fire to others' crops is that a) The Government is scared of the settlers b) The Government needs the settlers' votes c) The Government in is cahoots with the settlement enterprise Alas, all three are so and the rule of law is not applied and thereby fatally undermined. What a difference it would be if it was Palestinians setting up illegal trailer settlements, strong-arming the IDF and setting fire to settler property! We can guess that suddenly government and law officers would rediscover their duties to society. The Israeli people must insist on the proper application of law, order and punishment in this matter and inject some moral backbone into the backsliding state.
You wanted the war then you have it with all consequences. You support Palestinian dream of the great Palestine from the river to the sea,applaud every quassam,rocket,murder of a Jew and now you cry like little kids when they fight back? Pathetic hypocrites. West Bank belongs to the Jews, it was always theirs so keep your dirty hands from the WB and don't play the landlord of the land that is not yours and where you don't live. Disgusting to see foreigners deciding who can or cannot live in the West Bank.It is not Czechoslovakia 1938 where you had your say and where you helped Hitler to start the WW II. Never again.
But the rest of the world knows very well that the settlements are illegal and the settlers are breaking the law.
There's one quote from the article that needs to be emphasized. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly plans to announce a freeze on construction in settlements and the army is gearing up to evacuate dozens of illegal outposts, moves that settlers are likely to furiously resist." Didn't catch it? It's "illegal outposts". These are colonies that even Israel itself calls illegal - but ONLY because they are not actually sanctioned by the state. This is different than settlement building in general - settlement colonies given full approval by Israel. Israel may be wanting to try and remove these "illegal outposts" that the Israeli government did not authorize, but this does not mean there is any change in policy with the colonization that has already occurred with Israel's actual support - and which continues in East Jerusalem and Palestinian land!
What Jewish person outside of the settlements' 'ghastly denizens' (to quote the prominent Jewish British MP) could possibly support such a perverted, obscene strategy?
Is the IDF so impotent that they cannot arrest and remove these criminal thugs who so blatantly defy Israeli law?
GWN wrote: "Jewish settlement in the West Bank is legal under International Law. " You are wrong. Completely wrong. Under international law every settlement, ergo every settler, is illegal. Go back and study some international law before you demean yourself again.
the path israel is going will see it implode, i have said many times the arabs don't have to do a thing, what a shame, jews need a home, they were given one, then they wanted more and more, is it jewish greediness?. cheers my friend.
Do these squatters have any sense of morality? Are they animals? Their own government is thwarting their patently illegal land grab, and they turn on innocent Palestinians? Not only do these lunatics have no respect for the rule of law, nor any basic sense of human decency, they don't even have the stones to face the authorities head on. These cowards lash out at those who can't protect themselves, and idiots from New York cheer them on as pioneers and God's soldiers. If you're unsatisfied with your government, take it up with your government. As ya'll love to point out in order to justify the US "special relationship," Israel is nominally the only democracy in the region. Start behaving as such.
Sometimes trees must be burnt to avoid spreading of a disease even if they are fruit bearing trees and bellong to the fake Palestinians. Nothing about religion,but a lot about prevention to control Arabization Of Jewish land.
Dear Rabbi, with respect, perhaps you didn't notice; they have several states already: 1) state of denial 2) state of ignorance 3) state of incipient insanity and on and on until they involve us all in their desire to immolate themselves on the bonfire of their passionate desire for suicide.
Glad you are safe and sound in upstate NY. Do stay there for the sake of those Israelis who remain sane in spite of the settlers dance of death.
"Israeli forces and settlers attack Palestinians in the village, Ras Karkar, according to Palestinian police. (Ma'an News 13 September 2009) The Ma'an news item mentioned a Palestinian refugee camp in the village of Ras Karkar. It is to Israel's utter shame that Palestinian people are living in refugee camps while Zionist settlers are being imported by Israel to occupy new Israeli 'legal' dwellings on the Palestinian West Bank!
setting on fire someones living as an act of revenge? Is there no law for these people? They should be all arrested. We want law abiding respectable people and not hooligans please.
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...there will be civil war in Israel. Unless the Israeli government can rein in the settler movement, Israel will eventually be destroyed from within, no help needed from any Arab nation. Alternatively, one can forsee a time when the IDF and Palestinians of the West Bank join together against the militant and fanatical settlers... Either scenario is a disaster for Israel's future.
My dear brothers and sisters (the settlers), dont let the evil government discourage you, As we pray everyday "u MALCHUT HARASHA bemhera teaker" You have every right to fight for every inch of our G-d given land. After the Westbank bank is liberated, we must continue with Lebanon and Jordan. Please email me with responses aniyahudi@yahoo.com
"Settlers later set a nearby Palestinian olive grove ablaze to protest the incident. " punishment for the palestinians? it is mad. take the squatters out and try to live with them in your neighborhoods. you might be likely calling the IDF if they will burn your trees down because they don't like your secular lifestyle.
or moral....obviously US gave to much welfare to the zionist welfare state that it can afford squatter colonies of fake jews (and 1/4 of its childrern live in poverty).....this is the 'jewish state'?
A "Kabuki dance" refers to a performance in which the various participants take on traditionally assigned roles and act them out in a highly stylized and predictable fashion. The phrase derives from Japanese Kabuki theatre, a nationally beloved art form known for its rigidly orchestrated and colorfully presented productions.
Jewish settlement in the West Bank is legal under International Law. The IDFs actions to remove any Jews from the West Bank is illegal. Why is the IDF participating in ethnic cleansing of Jews.
The soap-box settlers can't even live at peace with their own.
... why they cannot be tolerated much longer...
"We have difficult challenges ahead of us, and we don't yet know how those challenges will effect us," Well if you happend to be Palestinian with an olive grove close to some illegal outpost you have a pretty good idea how "those challenges" will effect you.