Disloyalty on the part of the occupied
Were it not for Mohammed Abu Tir's red beard, this would perhaps be only a marginal news item: Israel is working to expel four Palestinian residents of Jerusalem affiliated with Hamas from the city of their birth.
By Amira HassWere it not for Mohammed Abu Tir's red beard, this would perhaps be only a marginal news item: Israel is working to expel four Palestinian residents of Jerusalem affiliated with Hamas from the city of their birth.
There are those who see this expulsion as demonstrating a proud national stance, but it is already turning out to be a political boomerang. Abu Tir is under arrest, because he did not leave Jerusalem on June 19. His colleagues - Khaled Abu Arafa, formerly the Jerusalem affairs minister in Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's government, and Ahmed Atun and Mohammed Totah, both members of the Palestinian Legislative Council on behalf of an Islamic list identified with Hamas - have moved into the Red Cross office in East Jerusalem.
Four years ago, then-interior minister Roni Bar-On (Kadima ) revoked their status as Jerusalem residents on the grounds that they had violated their minimal obligation of loyalty to the state of Israel, its citizens and its residents. After that, they were arrested, released and defined as illegals obligated to depart from "Israel's borders."
Since the end of 1995, the Interior Ministry - headed first by Haim Ramon (Labor ) and subsequently by Eliyahu Suissa (Shas ) - has pursued a policy of mass revocation of residency (with a brief hiatus under Natan Sharansky of Yisrael B'Aliyah, and even that only after an intense public struggle ). The record was set in 2008, when 4,577 men and women were stripped of their right to reside in their own city by the Interior Ministry, then headed by Meir Sheetrit (Kadima ).
Nevertheless, by revoking the residency of these three parliamentarians and one former cabinet minister, Israel has set a record of a new sort: Until now, Jerusalem residency had been revoked exclusively on the basis of administrative pretexts, such as prolonged stays outside the city.
These wicked pretexts derive from the liberty Israel has taken of applying the Entry to Israel Law - used primarily to grant residency permits to non-Jewish immigrants - to residents of occupied and annexed East Jerusalem. But the inhabitants of East Jerusalem did not decide to "come" to Israel; it is Israel that "came" to them.
The current case, however, is the first time Israel has denied Jerusalem residency on political grounds.
The United States and Europe urged Israel to let the Palestinians hold elections in 2006. The participation of an Islamic list affiliated with Hamas was a well-known condition for enabling these elections to take place, including in Jerusalem.
Yet the moment that list won a sweeping victory, Israel embarked on a campaign of punishment against its members, and especially the Jerusalemites among them, for "serving" in the Palestinian Authority.
This, in and of itself, represented a new peak of political cynicism (and another slap in the face to PA President Mahmoud Abbas ). It has been exceeded in its cynicism only by Israel's demand that the occupied evince loyalty to the occupier, lest he be banished.
With this expulsion order, Israel has managed to unite the entire Palestinian arena. The protest tent the three men set up in the courtyard of the Red Cross office has become a pilgrimage site. And Abbas has met twice with those slated for banishment.
Time will tell whether his promise to have the decree rescinded can be kept. In the meantime, however, the political movement that is his main rival is again becoming the symbol of the national struggle and of steadfastness in waging it.
Even those who, for political and cultural reasons, are sworn opponents of the Palestinian Islamic movement know that Israel is setting a precedent.
Today, people affiliated with Hamas are being expelled from Jerusalem. Tomorrow, if the PA falls apart or dares to reject Israel's dictates, it will be known Fatah activists who will be stripped of their residency due to "disloyalty to the occupation."
Following the flotilla raid, the expulsions from Sheikh Jarrah and the royal plans for Silwan, this is yet another match that Israel is tossing into the tinderbox. And it is one that even its friends will find it hard to ignore.
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Israel is sliding down the slope towards becoming a pariah state. All these people who write in seem to think that thy are helping by defending the indefensible. If you want to save the Israeli state, persuade it to comply with international law and end the human rights abuses. That is what a REAL friend of Israel would do
Only in Israel a representative of a group that attacks with rockets civilian populations is not indicted or expelled. People have rights but also obligations. They should have a trial and be indicted for aiding a terrorist group
This is not a NORMAL Country...What other country gives economic aid, employment,electricity,water and the like, to their enemy who has sworn to destroy them?????? It's only fitting to release a murderer of of innocent non-combatants. Only here in the "HOLY LAND' with its warped, perverted sense of 'MORALS' does it value the enemy's more than its own citizens'
Ask the haredi to vow loyalty to Israel
Amira Hass is an insane Israel-hater. If she ran Israel, Israel would disappear, Jews would flee, Hamas would take over, and Hass would be elected honorary Queen or something
you really have it all mapped out. may i ask, are you college educated? have you heard about the IDF? so you're telling me hamas has the capabilities to destroy Israel? please explain, this story you tell sounds fascinating
Cool Hand Luke....Captain, Road Prison 36: You run one time, you got yourself a set of chains. You run twice you got yourself two sets. You ain't gonna need no third set, 'cause you gonna get your mind right.
Denial of peoples rights prompts them to react. Destitute people react more violently. Israel creates the very conditions that make people destitute and reactive. I am often impressed by the vast majority of Palestinians committed to nonviolent resolution of the conflict even as the Israelis continue a campaign of repression.
Denial of peoples rights prompts them to react. Destitute people react more violently. Israel creates the very conditions that make people destitute and reactive. I am often impressed by the vast majority of Palestinians committed to nonviolent resolution of the conflict even as the Israelis continue a campaign of repression.
As usual, Hass avoids the background, the history, and some of the facts - anything that gets in the way of promoting her anti-Israel agenda.
I appreciated your articles on behalf of Palestinian rights. But this is just too much for me. Now I ask myself whether if you are a shameless Hamas supporter. This is for a quote for you, from the deadly racist terror organization Hamas charter, in case you have not read it: "The prophet, prayer and peace be upon him, said: The time will not come until Muslims will fight the Jews (and kill them); until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: O Muslim! there is a Jew hiding behind me, come on and kill him! This will not apply to the Gharqad, which is a Jewish tree (cited by Bukhari and Muslim)." Neither Israel, nor zionism. They are talking about Jews. I wonder, Amira, if Hamas will spare you when this day comes.
Is this the same Red Cross not permitted to visit Gilad Shalit? Where's the outrage?
I keep reading about the horror of the Red Cross not being allowed to visit Shalit. Aside from letting Israel know where he is so it can mount a rescue operation, what real difference would such a visit make? Would it in any way affect the quality of care he is given?
You have to love Amria Hass -- such a sick and twisted dame. We must cry boo hoo when her Hamas mass murderer buddies are seeking refuge in the offices of the very same Red Cross which cannot get a single meeting with Gilad Schalit. Maybe if her homicidal friends would facilitate basic internationally ordained rights for Schalit, Israel would be a bit less hasty to throw their bloodthirsty selves out of Jerusalem.
If anything , Amira show the nice side of Israelis long forgotten by the killing and ethnic cleansing this rogue nation is embarked on.
Laughed so much I fell off the chair!! grow up woman, as shown by the great US of A terrorists have no rights, and should be treated like the cowardly sons of mangy camels that they are a pox on all such attempts at tearjerking reporters
Amira, Take it from me those four men are heroes to show mistrust verses trust in such a wrapped society and to show disloyalty verses loyalty . It is too bad more israelis don't stand behind them and speak up for them. It would be the sane thing to do....Dutch
So Hamas members in East Jerusalem are heroes and Israëlis should support them...I think you live in the same parallel universe as Amira Hass.
EJ, the Westbank and Gaza are occupied territories, like the Nederlande were in WW2. Dutch, who refused to cooperate with the german occupier were thus illoyal, some even terrorists, while the members of the NSB are the good guys according to your "parallel universe". The occupiers are nearly always the bad guys, and so is the IDF in all of the occupied territory, which includes East-Jerusalem.
Bibi's government is, of course, here establishing the principle that when the world finally forces Israel out of the West Bank, the new Palestinian authorities will be able to expel any Jews disloyal to Palestine. I look at Bibi's government and, apart from Hamas, I don't think I've ever seen a worse government democratically elected for decades anywhere in the world.
This has been the policy pursued by the state of Israel for a long time, no matter who is in government as the author states.
by revoking the forced deportations to the East.
Keep dreaming, Michael, no law against that.
Keep dreaming, Michael, no law against that.
"But the inhabitants of East Jerusalem did not decide to 'come' to Israel; it is Israel that 'came' to them." So very true; indeed, indisputably true i.e. these people find themselves under Israel's authority not because they chose to place themselves under Israeli authority, but because Israel siezed this city by force of arms. What Israel is attempting to do is therefore illegal, immoral, bloody-minded, pig-headed, and downright thick-as-a-brick stupid.
East Jerusalem is a lie, invented by arch-terrorist Arafat. It is similar to a East NY and West NY. Where did we drink the Kool-Aid to believe this garbage. The Jews finally reclaim and reunified the Holy Jerusalem and no hocus-pocus from the Arab interloper can change this. When Jews pray about Jerusalem several times a day, multiple time in each prayer, they do not pray about West Jerusalem or East Jerusalem, it is about JERUSALEM. No misinformation from Amira Hass, Johnboy, or anybody else will change this. The Jewish people have come home to reclaim their rightful inheritance. Read your last sentence, it applies verbatim to the Arabs, who attempt to rewrite history.
This is disinformation at its best. The PA exists because of the Oslo Accords that allowed a group of terrorists to come from Tunis and set up a form of Arab autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza in exchange for renouncing terrorism, recognizing Israel, not teaching hate to their children, etc. Notwithstanding that the Arabs have not even attempted to fulfill the terms of the Accords, the moment they elect a "government" that calls for the destruction of Israel, the Accords are null and void and there is no longer a PA. You should put your reporting talents to good use by working in an Arab country and denouncing their abuses of power and total disregard to human rights. That would be a great service to the Arabs. In case you have not noticed, Arabs are running away from every country in the Middle East, except Israel.
which is this: Amram does not know the difference between the "PLO" and the "PA". Amram also appears not to know the difference between POLITICAL PARTIES (e.g. Hama s and Fatah) and REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR PEOPLE (e.g. the PLO and the PA). Amram, are you equally as clueless about the difference between "Likud" and "the Government of Israel"?
that names are only names, and in some cases, like here, amram is right. it is the same old guard of leaders that were in the PLO that control the PA today. So, where is the difference except maybe some differences in personalities among the members of the old and current guard? So, you can call Amram clueless, but honestly, you are really clueless, and also deluded, to equate the PA with a liberal democratic government.
The fact that it's not campaigning for Abbas and the PA says alot about its real desire - and intentions - for peace - or rather its lack thereof...
Amira Hass I have long stopped reading because though being a journalist she tends to have very biased one sided view that school of journalism repeats throughout the course of study not to do but report truth without personal touches Amira who hates Israel so badly her vision is blocked by it shame on you poor amira
And international law, to deport anybody from his home is the law of orgenize crime.
Power has intoxicated the Israeli leadership. In the past those who did injustice have suffred and jews know better than others. World power will be on your side as long as it serves their interest but they will not when you become liability and certainly God will not be on your side.
What can you say about this type of thing? Without even touching on just basic infringements on peoples rights, on a solely political level the Israeli Government seems suicidal. None of what they do makes any sense...
And at a time when it's otherwise been in decline. So tell us now - is this really just by coincidence? Hamas hasn't been faring too well in the polls of late, not even in Gaza, but outrage over this blatant disregard for basic human rights is sure to give it a rallying point...and both a boost in popularity and a sympathetic ears in the international arena. Is our government actually that stupid - or is this part of a premeditated effort to weaken the PA...and the chances for an agreement? I hate to say it, but I absolutely DO NOT trust the current government to make any progress towards our future security and prosperity. It's already become clear that both of these considerations conflict with agenda and are therefore not worthy of their attention. Then they have the gall to evoke nationalism in response to our plummeting world status that THEY have desroyed!
you might be right, this may be a ploy to strengthen Hamas to divide the Palestinian people. This could very easily, and very soon backfire in Israel's, face however. With hundreds of thousands of settlers on the ground in the WB, The Palestinians will soon realize their quest for a homeland beside Israel has been denied by Israel. They will disband The PA and call for equal rights, thereby destroying the rightist view of Israel HAHA
you might be right, this may be a ploy to strengthen Hamas to divide the Palestinian people. This could very easily, and very soon backfire in Israel's, face however. With hundreds of thousands of settlers on the ground in the WB, The Palestinians will soon realize their quest for a homeland beside Israel has been denied by Israel. They will disband The PA and call for equal rights, thereby destroying the rightist view of Israel HAHA