Golden Calves

Golden Calves

March 31, 2004

Last night, after a full night at the Hazon David Synagogue, I was unsure as to whether I should spend another night there. We knew it was only a matter of time until the troops showed up to evict us and obliterate the synagogue, but the exact time and date were still a question mark. I decided to sleep at home.

At 4:30 in the morning the phone started ringing and I knew the time had come. Quickly dressing, I made my way downstairs to drive to the site, five minutes away. I met my neighbor, who is also an ambulance driver. Knowing the necessity for emergency medical crews and ambulances at such events, his presence was a necessity. I decided to accompany him, rather than drive myself.

However, the road between Hebron and Kiryat Arba had been closed, with the synagogue site being blocked off by an army jeep, parked horizontally in the middle of the street. They wouldn’t even let the ambulance through. So, I walked a couple of minutes to the site and arrived just in time to witness the huge army D9 bulldozer start to demolish the tent which housed the synagogue.

The fifty or so youth spending the night at the synagogue had been expelled easily at about four o’clock, being forcibly and violently removed. They were taken to Kiryat Arba (across the street – maybe 50 meters away) and locked in. In other words, the gates to Kiryat Arba were closed and locked. The contents of the synagogue, the books, Torah Scroll and furniture, were removed. Then the D9 began its ugly work. And it didn’t take too long. Within a few minutes the synagogue was plowed into the ground.

A while later, when the gates to Kiryat Arba were opened, and others from Hebron were able to reach the site, everyone immediately started ‘rebuilding’ the synagogue. Rocks which had formed the foundation of the structure were gathered and piled one on top of the other, the beginnings of a low wall, encompassing the area of the synagogue. This was too much for the security forces, which again went to work, attempting to finish what they had started. The goal: destroy the wall!

The site was declared a ‘closed military zone’ and all people were ordered to leave, or else… Of course, no one left. Everyone sat down where they were, and a group of men began early morning prayers. The security forces, police, and border police tried to move people out, without success. And then, off and on, for a good part of the day, violence would erupt when the police decided that enough was enough – the ‘rebuilding’ had gone too far.

As of this writing, at about 4:00 in the afternoon, the atmosphere has somewhat relaxed. The police know that they are not going to be able to evict everyone – people will just keep coming back, while the Hebron-Kiryat Arba residents know that they will not be able to totally restore the synagogue today, immediately. So, for the time being, everyone is sitting around, waiting to see what the ‘other side’ plans to do.

This is one of the sickest situations I have ever witnessed since coming to Israel some 30 years ago. If, in any other country in the world, a government decision brought about the violent annihilation of a synagogue, newspaper headlines would scream ‘Anti-Semitism’ and ‘Racism.’ International Jewish organizations would demand immediate restoration and harsh measures to be brought against the perpetrators. Only in the State of Israel, under Ariel Sharon, can a synagogue, built in memory of two Jews murdered by terrorists in the midst of a war, be ‘justifiably’ wiped off the face of the earth, having been declared an ‘illegal outpost.’ It is unfathomable.

Despite the horror of today’s actions, it is incumbent upon us to realize what is actually happening. Only hours ago the IDF Chief of Staff announced that other ‘illegal outposts’ would be uprooted. The army is ready to “carry out what it’s required to do.” What does this mean?

Understand – this does not just refer to ‘outposts,’ be they ‘legal’ or ‘illegal.’ Ariel Sharon intends to implement such actions throughout all of Gaza and most of Judea and Samaria. He intends to give the orders and expects the army and other security forces to ‘carry out what it’s required to do.” To evict people from their homes. To bulldoze entire communities into the ground. To abandon Eretz Yisrael to our enemies – our blood- thirsty next-door neighbors whose only desire is the destruction of the state of Israel.

Soldiers are supposed to obey orders. That’s what ‘soldiering’ is all about. This morning I saw different kinds of soldiers. I saw officers who were very unhappy with what they had been commanded to do, but had no alternative to carrying out their orders. Then, there were others, who showed little emotion, one way or the other. But there were those who were happy – they smiled, laughed, and enjoyed their evil deed – evicting men, women and children from their synagogue, a place of worship, and their land. They could joke about it, they could make fun of the women, weeping, trying to explain why they could not abandon the synagogue. “Don’t you have a synagogue in your neighborhood,” one of the women cried out to the soldiers who were dragging her away.

These are the ones that really bother me. It is written, that while Moses was still on Mt. Sinai, after having received the Ten Commandments, the Jews far below began worshiping a golden calf. G-d ordered Moses to leave the mount and deal with the people. As Moses reached the bottom of Mt Sinai, he became furious. Not so much due to the fact that the people had built a golden calf and were using it for idol worship. Rather, because there were those who were joyously singing and dancing around the calf. To commit such a crime, that is one thing, but to be happy about it – that is unthinkable. Some commentators explain that this is the reason why Moses threw down and broke the first tablets of the law, because of the merriment expressed by some of the people.

Such it is here too. The legitimacy of this morning’s actions might be debated. It is a complicated political issue, to which there are different opinions. But to be happy about it? That is, in my opinion, equivalent to dancing around the golden calf. But in this case, there may be many more than one calf. There may be many golden calves. And if there are those who enjoy forcibly evicting people from their homes, we are in a very sad state. I hope and pray that the golden calves will be quickly melted down, and that all people will recognize the right of the Jewish people to their land – to Eretz Yisrael – to ALL of Eretz Yisrael. Then we will all have reason to be joyous - singing and dancing together, not around a golden calf, but in honor of our golden G-d-given land.

With blessings from Hebron.

Never Lose Hope

Never Lose Hope

March 30, 2004

A few days ago, journalist David Bedin put out a press release that says as follows: “According to reliable sources, Sharon is preparing to announce in Washington his willingness to remain in three ‘settlement blocks’ only: Gush Etzion, the Ariel block, and Ma’ale Adumim. The significance of this is that Israel will abandon the rest of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, including the southern Hebron hills communities and Hebron.”

Yesterday Sharon declared that if his disengagement proposal should not pass a cabinet vote, he would reshuffle his government, forming an alternative government within one day.

Today’s Ma’ariv daily newspaper headline heralded, “Arbel (Prosecutor) leak torpedoed national unity government: PM reached agreement with Labor on a national unity government but talks were frozen when Arbel recommended indicting Sharon.” The story (http://www.maarivinternational.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=5400) revealed that Sharon offered Labor six ministerial posts, including the foreign ministry, (for Shimon Peres).

Tonight, at the Likud convention, Sharon proposed a public referendum to determine the fate of his “disengagement plan,” with the participants being 200,000 Likud members in Israel.

In the meantime, preparations for the April 14 Bush-Sharon meeting in Washington continue. This week three top American diplomats, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs William Burns, Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, and Eliot Abrams, a senior director of National Security Council who is responsible for Middle East affairs, are scheduled to arrive in Israel for top-level meetings concerning Sharon’s proposals and continued ‘progress’ of the ‘roadmap.’ Ariel Sharon is preparing them a hearty welcome. How better a way to greet them than by handing them the ruins of a destroyed ‘illegal outpost’ on a silver platter. That is precisely what Sharon is planning on doing.

On the outskirts of Kiryat Arba, just outside the west gate, which leads down into the city of Hebron, is a 20 square meter tent. This tent was pitched almost three years ago, following the murder of two men, David Cohen and Hezi Mualem. Cohen was killed while sitting in his car, next to the Kiryat Arba gate. That evening, the Kiryat Arba town council held a spontaneous demonstration not far from the site of the murder. Terrorists opened fire on the group, killing Mualem and injuring another man. Thus the name, Hazon David (which literally means “David’s vision,) – Hazon for Hezi Mualem and David for David Cohen.

Since its inception the tent has served as a synagogue, a place of worship, and a place of Torah study. Classes are frequently conducted for youth and adults, in Hebrew and Russian. The tent is small, and bothers no one.

Well, almost no one. No one, except the Americans and Ariel Sharon. Hazon David was declared to be ‘an illegal outpost’ and orders were issued for its destruction. Over the past few months, numerous appeals to Israeli courts delayed execution of the decree. Recently Deputy Defense Minister Ze’ev Baum visited the site. Worshipers and others penned letters to various government ministers, including Defense minister Shaul Mufaz and the Prime Minister. Seemingly to no avail. Last week Supreme Court judge Moshe Heshin rejected a request for a second Supreme Court hearing before an extended panel. That ruling paved the way for implementation of Sharon’s orders: Destroy the synagogue!

Last night, following a farewell party for the Nahal Brigade officers and soldiers, who have served in Hebron for the past seven months, word leaked out that tonight’s the night – the forces are on their way to demolish the tent synagogue. Emergency calls went out to Kiryat Arba-Hebron residents, and within a short time hundreds of people, adults and youth, were swarming towards Hazon David. There, they met some of the same officers they had only minutes before honored and thanked, at the farewell gathering. The long night-the long wait, began. Officers and soldiers, police and other security forces came and left. But the civilians didn’t budge. “We are staying,” they announced. “We will not abandon our synagogue, we will not abandon our city, we will not abandon our land.” “And be well aware, even if you should succeed in knocking down this tent which has served us for the past three years, we will pitch it again, and next time it will be bigger and stronger. You will not defeat us!”

Senior officers at the site were surprised. They obviously weren’t prepared for such massive resistance, expecting to be able to tear down the tent without any effort. As a result of the hundreds of demonstrators, they backed down, and the eviction was postponed. For how long, we still don’t know.

People spent the entire night at the synagogue, and after a couple of hours sleep, returned to the site in the late morning. Rumors of impending expulsion brought hundreds out again, in the early afternoon. Most people will probably spend the night there tonight, and for as long as necessary, until Sharon announces an end to the madness.

This is the beginning of the price Ariel Sharon is willing to pay. The question is, for what. According to most sources, George W. Bush opposes the unilateral disengagement from Gaza and several Samaria communities. Most probably Ariel Sharon is hoping that continued implementation of left-wing policies will delay his indictment for accepting bribes and other alleged crimes he is accused of. However, this will not help him. The decision to press charges against him, now in the hands of the new Israeli attorney general, is only weeks away. Ariel Sharon, the politician, will then be an item of the past.

Hebron-Kiryat Arba residents are determined to stick it out, as long as it takes, to prevent destruction of the memorial synagogue, in memory of David Cohen and Hezi Mualem. Destruction of the site will be a victory for terror and the very opposite of “David’s vision” the victory of Zionism, the triumph of good over evil. And should the worst come to pass, we will not give up. The synagogue will be rebuilt, an eternal remembrance to two brave men who were cut down there by Arab terrorists. We will never lose hope.

With blessings from Hebron for a happy Passover.

Never Lose Hope

Never Lose Hope

March 30, 2004

A few days ago, journalist David Bedin put out a press release that says as follows: “According to reliable sources, Sharon is preparing to announce in Washington his willingness to remain in three ‘settlement blocks’ only: Gush Etzion, the Ariel block, and Ma’ale Adumim. The significance of this is that Israel will abandon the rest of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, including the southern Hebron hills communities and Hebron.”

Yesterday Sharon declared that if his disengagement proposal should not pass a cabinet vote, he would reshuffle his government, forming an alternative government within one day.

Today’s Ma’ariv daily newspaper headline heralded, “Arbel (Prosecutor) leak torpedoed national unity government: PM reached agreement with Labor on a national unity government but talks were frozen when Arbel recommended indicting Sharon.” The story (http://www.maarivinternational.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=5400) revealed that Sharon offered Labor six ministerial posts, including the foreign ministry, (for Shimon Peres).

Tonight, at the Likud convention, Sharon proposed a public referendum to determine the fate of his “disengagement plan,” with the participants being 200,000 Likud members in Israel.

In the meantime, preparations for the April 14 Bush-Sharon meeting in Washington continue. This week three top American diplomats, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs William Burns, Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, and Eliot Abrams, a senior director of National Security Council who is responsible for Middle East affairs, are scheduled to arrive in Israel for top-level meetings concerning Sharon’s proposals and continued ‘progress’ of the ‘roadmap.’ Ariel Sharon is preparing them a hearty welcome. How better a way to greet them than by handing them the ruins of a destroyed ‘illegal outpost’ on a silver platter. That is precisely what Sharon is planning on doing.

On the outskirts of Kiryat Arba, just outside the west gate, which leads down into the city of Hebron, is a 20 square meter tent. This tent was pitched almost three years ago, following the murder of two men, David Cohen and Hezi Mualem. Cohen was killed while sitting in his car, next to the Kiryat Arba gate. That evening, the Kiryat Arba town council held a spontaneous demonstration not far from the site of the murder. Terrorists opened fire on the group, killing Mualem and injuring another man. Thus the name, Hazon David (which literally means “David’s vision,) – Hazon for Hezi Mualem and David for David Cohen.

Since its inception the tent has served as a synagogue, a place of worship, and a place of Torah study. Classes are frequently conducted for youth and adults, in Hebrew and Russian. The tent is small, and bothers no one.

See pictures: www.hebron.com/news/hazondavid.htm

Well, almost no one. No one, except the Americans and Ariel Sharon. Hazon David was declared to be ‘an illegal outpost’ and orders were issued for its destruction. Over the past few months, numerous appeals to Israeli courts delayed execution of the decree. Recently Deputy Defense Minister Ze’ev Baum visited the site. Worshipers and others penned letters to various government ministers, including Defense minister Shaul Mufaz and the Prime Minister. Seemingly to no avail. Last week Supreme Court judge Moshe Heshin rejected a request for a second Supreme Court hearing before an extended panel. That ruling paved the way for implementation of Sharon’s orders: Destroy the synagogue!

Last night, following a farewell party for the Nahal Brigade officers and soldiers, who have served in Hebron for the past seven months, word leaked out that tonight’s the night – the forces are on their way to demolish the tent synagogue. Emergency calls went out to Kiryat Arba-Hebron residents, and within a short time hundreds of people, adults and youth, were swarming towards Hazon David. There, they met some of the same officers they had only minutes before honored and thanked, at the farewell gathering. The long night-the long wait, began. Officers and soldiers, police and other security forces came and left. But the civilians didn’t budge. “We are staying,” they announced. “We will not abandon our synagogue, we will not abandon our city, we will not abandon our land.” “And be well aware, even if you should succeed in knocking down this tent which has served us for the past three years, we will pitch it again, and next time it will be bigger and stronger. You will not defeat us!”

Senior officers at the site were surprised. They obviously weren’t prepared for such massive resistance, expecting to be able to tear down the tent without any effort. As a result of the hundreds of demonstrators, they backed down, and the eviction was postponed. For how long, we still don’t know.

People spent the entire night at the synagogue, and after a couple of hours sleep, returned to the site in the late morning. Rumors of impending expulsion brought hundreds out again, in the early afternoon. Most people will probably spend the night there tonight, and for as long as necessary, until Sharon announces an end to the madness.

This is the beginning of the price Ariel Sharon is willing to pay. The question is, for what. According to most sources, George W. Bush opposes the unilateral disengagement from Gaza and several Samaria communities. Most probably Ariel Sharon is hoping that continued implementation of left-wing policies will delay his indictment for accepting bribes and other alleged crimes he is accused of. However, this will not help him. The decision to press charges against him, now in the hands of the new Israeli attorney general, is only weeks away. Ariel Sharon, the politician, will then be an item of the past.

Hebron-Kiryat Arba residents are determined to stick it out, as long as it takes, to prevent destruction of the memorial synagogue, in memory of David Cohen and Hezi Mualem. Destruction of the site will be a victory for terror and the very opposite of  “David’s vision” the victory of Zionism, the triumph of good over evil. And should the worst come to pass, we will not give up. The synagogue will be rebuilt, an eternal remembrance to two brave men who were cut down there by Arab terrorists. We will never lose hope.

With blessings from Hebron for a happy Passover.

The Little Shahid

The Little Shahid

March 16, 2004

Shalom.

What does the name Abdallah Koran mean to you? Anything? If not, it should. Abdallah Koran should be a banner-sized headline in all news publications around the world, hard-copy and internet.

Why?

Abdallah Koran is about 10 years old. His exact age is not 100% clear. Yesterday afternoon Abdallah, before making his way through an IDF checkpoint near Shechem, in Samaria, was made a tantalizing offer. Approached by some ‘older people,’ Abdallah was promised a great sum of money if he would do them a small favor. They requested that Abdallah act as a messenger and take with him, along with his school books, a backpack for some people waiting on the other side of the checkpoint.

Of course, little Abdallah agreed. Why pass up a chance to make some good money so easily.

At the checkpoint a border policewoman, examining all those crossing over, became very suspicious. The  backpack was big and heavy, much heavier than would normally be used by a ten year old. The youngster was quickly questioned – “What is in this backpace?”

Never having been questioned by uniformed Israelis before, Abdaallah was frightened. “It’s not mine. Someone gave it to me to take across the checkpoint, as a messenger.”

The backpack was carefully removed to an isolated area, where an army sapper examined it and proceeded to explode it. Inside the backpack was a 6 – 10 kilo (about 15 lbs) bomb belt, hooked up to a cellular telephone.

It seems that the terrorists who provided the bomb to little Abdallah had planned on blowing him up, together with the Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint, at the time of its examination. But the plan failed. The bomb didn’t go off.

Had he managed to get it through the checkpoint undetected, it is most likely, according to Israeli intelligence-security forces, that the bomb would have been detonated on a bus packed with people, murdering Abdallah and the others on the bus.

As I wrote, you should know this already because this story should be headlining all news programs, radio, t.v., newspapers and internet. But, it’s not. As of this writing, this story does not appear on the homepage of CNN, Fox, or MSNBC.

Let’s, for a minute, play one of my favorite games: Make Believe. Make believe, for a moment, that a ten year old from, let’s say, Hebron, was found carrying a bomb on his back, attempting to kill some Arabs in Hebron. Or, maybe a little boy or girl from Yitzhar, who was trying to kill some Arabs somewhere in Samaria. Or, or or …

Can you imagine the headlines. I mean, after all, one of the pictures of the year, a few years ago, was a photograph of a Hebron child pulling off an Arab woman’s headscarf. That was a major international crime which made blazing headlines. But, a 10 year old with a bomb, who was not only to be the killer, but also the target?! Why should anyone pick up the story? What’s it worth?

Only a couple of days ago 10 Israelis were killed in cold blood by two terrorists who managed to bypass the infamous ‘wall’ or ‘fence’ or call it whatever you wish – the magical barrier which would prevent any such infiltrations from Gaza into “Israel proper,” in this case, the Ashdod port. That terror attack was billed as an ‘almost Mega-attack,” due to the proximity of the terrorists to poisonous bromide tanks, which, upon explosion, could cause the deaths of thousands of people. But, here again, the terrorist detonated himself too fast, for one reason or another, and the ‘big tragedy’ was averted. This time. But, according to most news broadcasters, commentators and everyone else, it will (G-d forbid) happen. It’s just a question of time. The Spanish attacks will seem like child’s play in comparison.

In my opinion, mega-terror cannot be strictly measure by the number of people killed. Of course, numbers do mean a lot. But each and every individual person is just that, a person. And every loss is just that, a loss. To the families of victims, it is little consolation that their loved one was ‘one of many.’ When Mom or Dad, Brother or Sister, Son or Daughter is gone – they’re gone and it makes no difference how many went with them.

In my opinion, the attempted use of Abdallah Koran, an Arab 10 year old child, is  Mega-terror. The vile, immoral, depraved use of a child to kill others, this is mega terror. Perhaps not in the quantitative sense, but certainly qualitatively.

Only the brilliant alertness of a young border policewoman saved many lives – lives of Israelis and the life of little Abdullah. Otherwise Abdullah Koran would have been labeled, for the rest of eternity, ‘the little Shahid’ – the little martyr, who killed and died for his people, without his even knowing it, against his will.

With blessings from Hebron.

Less than perfect

Less than perfect

March 10, 2004

In Hebron, Purim is a very two-faced holiday. “Of course,” you might say, “that’s the way Purim’s supposed to be.” Purim is a day of costumes, makeup, and much fun. The mask’s make it literally, a two-faced day. But unfortunately, that’s not what I’m talking about.

Purim in Hebron is a multi-faceted affair. On the one hand, children and adults do dress up and do have much fun. Due to halachic rulings, that is, rabbinic decisions, Purim is celebrated for two days in the city of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. Traditionally, on the first day, a festive Purim parade, called in Hebrew an “Ad’d’lo Yadah, is held, starting at the Tel Rumeida neighborhood and concluding at Ma’arat HaMachpela. Hundreds of people, including adults and children, from Hebron, Kiryat Arba and other places, participate in this fun-filled event, which includes a tractor-driven wagon, carrying a father-and-son song team, filling the air with joyful Purim songs. It’s a very difficult event to describe in words. Pictures help, but they are nothing compared to the ‘real thing.’ The parade lasts for about two hours, and is protected by Israeli security forces.

That’s one of the two faces of Purim. The happy side. But there is, as noted, a second face, this one, less positive. I call them ‘the leeches.’ Others call them ‘media.’

You must understand that here, I’m walking on very thin ice. My job, that of spokesman of Hebron’s Jewish Community, is to work with media, in Israel and around the world. I give them tours, am interviewed, set up meetings with others in Hebron, etc. There are those who firmly believe that we shouldn’t have anything to do with media, but I, for the most part, disagree. However, Purim is definitely an extreme exception to the rule.

I’d like to use two examples to define my point:

A couple of weeks ago I found a copy of an article called “Growing Up With Hatred” by Philip Jacobson, for the Sunday Times, dated February 22,  2004. The article deals primarily with children growing up in a place of danger. It is certainly not a ‘pro-Hebron’ feature, and the text in not entirely ‘objective.’ For example, the last paragraph begins with the sentence, “Meanwhile, an Israeli journalist familiar with the Jewish enclaves sees no hope of settlers ever accepting a degree of peaceful coexistence with their neighbours along the dividing line.” First of all, in the past there was coexistence; sometime more and sometimes less, peaceful, – until the Arabs started shooting at us 3 and a half years ago. And what about the Arabs – they will ever accept a degree of future peaceful coexistence?

However, in this case, it’s not the text that really disturbs me, rather it’s the pictures. Photographed by Jan Grarup, they are quite professional. But, they are also extremely disturbing. Printed in black and white, many of these pictures were taken last Purim, during our above-mentioned Purim parade. Everyone knows that a picture is worth a thousand words, that many readers prefer to glance at the article, reading random sentences here and there, and are primarily influenced by the headlines and the pictures. The pictures used in this article grossly distort Hebron and its residents. They are certainly not representative, considering the day they were photographed and amount of people depicted.

A much more serious example of Purim leechism appeared in Monday’s Jerusalem Post, in an article authored by Matthew Gutman, called “Celebrating Purim in Hebron under a microscope.”  This article is a springboard for several topics of discussion.

The first of those is  Dr. Baruch Goldstein. This year in particular Hebron has come under attack, being the 10^th anniversary of his killing of twenty nine Arabs in Ma’arat HaMachpela. 

This topic has been so overplayed in the past decade that, as a rule, I don’t deal with it. But, for the record, there are a few points that must be clarified.

1. The Jewish Community of Hebron has always rejected any and all illegitimate violence towards anyone, Arab and Jew alike. In fact, over the past three and a half years of warfare, when here in Hebron we were shot at day and night, in our homes and on the streets for over two years, no one took out an M16 and started randomly shooting people. True, most people here are armed, (and not only in Hebron, but throughout Yesha and a good part of the rest of the State of Israel) for reasons of self-defense, and are licensed to carry arms by the Interior Ministry and the IDF. The difference between us and our enemies is that we carry weapons for self-protection. When they obtain arms, they use them to attack. This is, by itself, overwhelming proof that Dr. Goldstein’s actions are not seen as a solution to the problems we face. For if people did accept his approach, he certainly would not have been the only one to use it.
2. Almost all articles articles about Dr. Goldstein invariable mention his grave. For instance, the Sunday Times article: “Hebron’s children are encouraged by extremists to cherish Goldstein as a saint…they are taken to pay respects at his grave…”

I do not know who the ‘extremists’ are, and being that they are not named, my guess is that this is the author’s supposition, based upon expectation and hearsay. I cannot say that I loiter around Dr. Goldstein’s grave site, but it is located near the western entrance to Kiryat Arba, and over the years I have rarely noticed throngs of people, be they from Hebron or anywhere else, hanging around there.

3.  Most articles equate Dr. Goldstein with Hebron/Kiryat Arba and the outlawed Kach movement, almost relating to them as synonyms. This is simply not true. It is true, there are Kach supporters in Hebron and Kiryat Arba, but there are also Kach supporters all over Israel. The number of such supporters is also greatly exaggerated. For example, about 12 years ago, before it was outlawed, the Kach list in Kiryat Arba received one seat out of nine. 

4. As for memorial services held for Dr. Goldstein on the date of his death: All of these services are sparsely attended, and those participating are, by enlarge, not from Hebron or Kiryat Arba. Another service, held by the family, is small, private and identical to Jewish memorial services for all family members who are no longer among the living.

Gutman seems to enjoy insinuating guilt by association. The prime example he uses is our old friend Avishai Raviv: "It was there [Hebron] that Avishai Raviv, an extremist settler provocateur turned controversial Shin Bet informer, used the city as the center for violent activity."

In other words, Hebron is responsible for the fact that Raviv's controllers sent him to Hebron in order to cause violent disturbances that could then be blamed on Hebron. Right?! Does it make sense to you? As for the 'charge' that Raviv was 'an extremist settler,' please note that Raviv began his Shabak-initiated activities in 1989-1990 when he lived in Holon and studied at Tel Aviv University. After being expelled (!), the Shabak moved him to Bar Ilan University and the Shomron community Ma'ale Levona. He arrived in Kiryat Arba (where the Shabak rented him and apartment) and Hebron post-1994.

However, this is the minor problem with Gutman’s article. The major difficulty lies with the statements made by Professor Aviezer Ravitzky. Ravitzky is active in the left-wing religious party Meimad, whose web site identifies him as the party council chairman. (Meimad, it should be recalled, participated in the Peres government in 1996 and later integrated in the Labor party and served in the Ehud Barak fiasco.)

I would like to quote Ravitzky's gem, as written by Gutman: "There is a type of symbiosis between the Arabs and Jews in Hebron. They become increasingly similar. Even in their dress and mindset…The fringes of both sides push the notion that 'violence is the single solution,' and that the dehumanization of the other side is the way to get there."

Way back when, in April, 1995, similar statements were made, then by Prof. Moshe Zimmerman, who compared Hebron's children to Nazi youth. Almost ten years later another Professor is comparing Hebron residents to Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists. In his opinion we are all the same. We explode on buses full of innocent men, women and children, we blow ourselves up in restaurants, and kill as many kids as we can at discotheques. Our dress is quite discerning: one can distinguish the difference between a Hebron resident, and a Jew from, say, Jerusalem, Beit El, or even Tel-Aviv, quite easily. We look more like Arabs than our fellow brethren. And of course, we teach our children, (as can be found on the Hebron web site, in Hebron school textbooks, in Hebron summer camp activities and in movies we produce) to KILL KILL KILL.

The article concludes with another Ravitzky treasure: "The issue of Hebron and Baruch Goldstein's message does not reach the rest of Israel. If we didn't read about the parades in the press, we would never know about them."

Again – Hebron is responsible for the killing of 29 Arabs, simply because we are here. Just like Hertzelia is responsible for Rabin's assassination, because Yigal Amir lived there…right? And this is, according to Ravitzky, Hebron's message.

Nothing could be farther from the truth, and to connect them is odious. Hebron's message is short and simple. Jews should be allowed to live freely and securely in Eretz Yisrael. Surely, Jews have a right, a G-d given right, a cultural right, a historic right, to live in the first Jewish city in the land of Israel, where they lived for hundreds and thousands of years, prior to the 1929 riots, massacre and expulsion. We have no aspirations to kill anyone or to instigate violence. To the contrary, our goal is to live peacefully and normally, just like any other person, anywhere else in the world. If only our neighbors would let us!

We believe that 'our job' is to live here – our security is in the hands of G-d and the Israeli security forces. It is their responsibility to see to it that we are safe.

The very fact that Ravitzky has the gall to compare us to Hebron's Arab terrorists, who shot at us for over two years, is repulsive. The fact that a supposedly 'responsible' and 'serious' journalist, like Matthew Gutman would see fit to print such rubbish is detestable.

But in the end, it's the headline that says it all: Celebrating Purim in Hebron under a microscope – when everything said and done in Hebron must be 100% perfect – anything less will find its way into another yellow journalistic piece of junk. I don't know of anywhere else where people are expected to be faultless. Only here. And I admit, we are not flawless. So what? We are people – skin and bones, just like everyone else. Is being less that perfect a crime?

According to the Sunday Times, according to Ravitzky and others, yes, definitely, if you live in Hebron.

In truth, I don't mind being less than perfect. As long as I can be less than perfect in Hebron.

With blessings from Hebron.

Vanunu and Tennenbaum, Yes – Federman, No?

Vanunu and Tennenbaum, Yes – Federman, No?

March 3, 2004

In a few weeks atomic weapon’s spy Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli equivalent of the American Rosenberg couple, is due to be released from prison after serving an eighteen year sentence. Vanunu, it might be recalled, was convicted of publicizing Israel’s nuclear secrets, having been employed at the atomic power plant in Dimona. Vanunu’s statements and secretly-photographed pictures caused Israel irreparable security damage. Yet he will not be left in prison to rot for the rest of his life. Shortly he will be set free. This despite Vanunu’s overt threats to continue revealing State secrets.

During a high-level meeting concerning Vanunu a couple of weeks ago, a meeting which included Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, it was decided not to keep Vanunu in jail via an administrative detention order. According to media reports, Sharon himself made this decision.

We are told that Vanunu will have a ‘permanent shadow’ and at the first ‘slip of this tongue’ he will be immediately incarcerated. But, until then, the traitor will be a free man.

Another big-time criminal has also been making headlines: Elhanan Tennenbaum.  According to a Knesset subcommittee for security and defense, the Tennenbaum case is one of the most damaging affairs Israel has ever known. It is still unclear whether Tennenbaum’s escapades were strictly criminal, i.e., drug marketing, leading to his abduction by Hezbollah, or whether his original intent was to sell State secrets to our enemies. However, Tennenbaum, whose freedom from captivity cost Israel the release of dozens of terrorists, was offered, and signed, a plea-bargain deal, allowing him to escape further punishment. The only condition is that his initiated activities were not security- related.

It makes no difference whether or not Tennenbaum’s criminal offences were, or were not security-connected. The fact is that the State of Israel is willing to allow a first-class gangster to walk freely on the streets, despite the damage he inflicted on his people.

Conversely, one Israeli citizen has been rotting in an Israeli prison for almost six months, without having been indicted, without having been tried, and without having been convicted. He is the only Israeli in jail due to an administrative detention order, signed by Defense Minister Shaul Mufaz. He has been stripped of all legal due process. His wife and seven children remain virtually fatherless. His name is Noam Federman.

This is not the first time I’ve written about Hebron resident Noam Federman. At least twice before (Free Federman – Oct. 5, 2003 and Federman’s Twilight Zone – July 22, 2002) I have posted articles concerning Federman’s appalling case.

First, an update. Noam Federman was placed under house arrest in the summer of 2002, for ostensibly belonging to the “Bat Ayin” group, three of whom were convicted and jailed. The difference between Federman and the others was that Noam was not put on trial. He was told that his trial would commence only after the trials of the others were concluded. Six months ago, in the middle of an appeal to the Supreme Court, he was arrested while presenting his petition to the judges. The police appeared in the courtroom, handcuffed Federman, and led him away. He was placed in one of the highest security jails in Israel, in a solitary confinement cell, in the same wing with Arab criminals and others, such as Lebanese terrorists Mustepha Dirani and Shech Obeid (who were freed in return for Tennenbaum and the three murdered Israeli soldiers). He was denied kosher food, minimal conditions to allow normal prayer, etc.

Following a lengthy hunger strike lasting months, and due to a tremendous public outcry, which included MKs and others, Federman was moved to a jail in Ashkelon and promised better conditions. Presently, he is incarcerated in a wing with Israeli criminals who have no respect for religious Judaism, he cannot properly maintain Shabbat observances or eat normal hot food on that sacred day, and is allowed to see his family only 45 minutes a week, with a guard sitting next to them to record everything said. Other prisoners in the same jail are also allowed a three-day vacation at their home every month, which Noam is denied. In addition, on the first of every ‘new month’, other prisoners are allowed a three hour family visit. This too is forbidden to Federman.

In short, without having been charged with any crime, Federman’s conditions are abysmal, especially compared to others in the same prison.

In a few weeks, the six month detention order will expire. In order to keep Noam Federman in jail, another order must be issued. People in Israel and around the world, Jews and gentiles alike, are working to bring about Federman’s release from prison. There are several avenues open to public action:

1.      Tomorrow, (Thursday, March 4 – Ta’anit Esther) at 4:00 in the afternoon, a public demonstration will take place outside the Supreme Court building in Jerusalem. At the conclusion of the fast refreshments will be served. All people are urged to attend. Information concerning transportation is available at: http://www.jewsite.org/uploads/noamTanitEsther.jpg

2.      An internet petition calling for Civil Rights for Noam Federman [http://www.petitiononline.com/federman/petition.html]  contains some 2,000 signatures. It will be presented to Defense Minister Shaul Mufaz in a couple of weeks, a short time before the detention order expires. Organizers have expressed a desire to see that petition reach 5,000 signatures. If you haven’t signed already, please do so, today. And pass the petition link to all your friends and family, requesting that they do the same.

3.      View the new movie about Noam Federman (in Hebrew) and watch the web for other activities. (www.noamfederman.org and www.hebron.com/news/noamfederman.htm

4.      Read Noam Federman’s pamphlet: Know Your Legal Rights ! A guide to protecting Jewish civil liberties in the land of Israel (It is suspected that Noam’s authoring of this booklet was one of the primary reasons for his arrest!)

5.      Bombard ministers with faxes, emails, and phone calls calling for full civil rights for Noam Federman and his release from administrative detention.

* Minister of Communications Ehud Olmert -
    fax 02-666.2909 eulmert@knesset.gov.il
* Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - 02-566.4838 pm_heb@pmo.gov.il
* Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz - 03-697.6218

* Public Security Minister Tzachi HaNegbi - 02-530.8039 zhanegbi@knesset.gov.il

* Minister Meir Sheetrit 02-531.7697 mshitrit@knesset.gov.il
* Education Minister Limor Livnat - 02-560.2246 llivnat@knesset.gov.il
* Justice Minister Tommy Lapid - 02-628.5438 ylapid@knesset.gov.il
 

Also call to PM (direct tel 02-670.5527) and the DM 03-697.5750

Demand that Federman be immediately freed from jail!

Ask them:  Why do Vanunu and Tennenbaum deserve legal consideration, while Noam Federman is denied even the most basic civil rights?

Try to understand why: Vanunu and Tennenbaum, Yes; and Noam Federman, NO.

With blessings for a Happy Purim from Hebron.