Police State

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever
Police State

December 29, 1995

David Shirel, resident of Tel Rumeida in Hebron is serving a three month administrative restraint order, issued by the Israeli Defense Forces. The order forbids him to leave his home without written permission from the army. The last time he left his home for Jerusalem with permission, he was detained for over an hour when returning to Hebron, charged with defying the order in spite of the written approval allowing him to leave his home. The restraining order specifically allows him to leave his premises in order to visit a doctor. This week he requested a permit to leave Tel Rumeida to go to his doctor. He was refused. When asked why, he was told that he may not leave his home under any circumstances. When he asked the officer ‘what will happen if I die?’ (G-d forbid) he was told, ‘that’s your problem.’

Shmuel Cytrin has turned into a household name among thousands who are assisting him in his efforts to be released from administrative detention. He was jailed over three weeks ago for no apparent reason and placed in solitary confinement. He has not been indicted, nor has he ever been convicted of a crime. This week he began a hunger strike to protest his being denied glott kosher food, (in spite of the fact that such food is provided to other convicted prisoners). He is also being denied the right to pray with others in the jail. A military appeals court, which reduced the administrative order from three months to two months, ordered prison authorities to provide him with the kosher food and to allow him to pray with a minion (10 other Jews) but this order has been totally ignored.

Shmuel’s lawyer filed an appeal with the Israeli Supreme Court. Next Sunday, December 31, a march from the American Consulate to the Presidents residence in Jerusalem, will protest Cytrin’s continued imprisonment. It is being organized and led by the Women in Green and former Soviet prisoners of Zion.

Rav Yitzhak Ginzberg, Torah-scholar consummate, was issued with a restraining order forbidding him from entering Yehuda and Shomron for six months. Rav Ginzberg is: the dean of the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva at Kever Yosef in Schechem, the dean of the Menucha Rachel Kollel (Torah-study program) in Hebron, and the dean of a children’s Talmud Torah in Hebron. He gives classes to hundreds of people in communities throughout Judea and Samaria. An Israeli army order, signed by the infamous General Ilan Biran, now prevents him from teaching Torah to his students. Two thousand years ago the Romans forbade Torah studies in Israel. Now, the Israeli government, under the guise of ‘secret security-related issues’, is effectively prohibiting a Rav to teach his students.

Rav Yizhak Shapira, the teacher at Yeshivat Yosef Chai in Shechem may not enter Shechem, because of an administrative restraining order. Rav Dudi Dudokevitz, the Rav of Yitzhar and dean of the Kever Yosef Yeshiva is under house arrest, as are nine of his students. The administrative director of the Yeshiva, Eli Rosenfeld may not enter Shechem.

Uri Amsalem, a Kiryat Arba resident, may not leave his home. He supposedly had some connection with the revelation that Avishai Raviv is a Security Agent. Noam Federman from Hebron is sitting in jail for having defied a restraining order. He is being remanded until after his trial. The judge who remanded him was having an affair with his typist, who is known to have close connections to the Israeli far left. According to newspaper reports, she was extremely influential concerning punishments meted out by her judge-friend. When Federman appealed, the president of the Jerusalem Court accused Federman of ‘bothering the court.’ The judge claimed that Federman is "dangerous to the society’ and must remain in jail until after his trial.

Rav Moshe Levinger and his wife Miriam have been sentenced for supposed crimes committed four and five years ago. Baruch Marzel was sentenced to imprisonment for ‘attempting to disturb the peace.’

Itamar ben Gvir from Mevaseret Tzion, outside of Jerusalem, may not leave his home for six months. Itamar is 19 years old and has never been convicted of a crime.

The Department of the Interior has issued orders refusing entrance to Israel to at least seven Jews, including Shelly Benvenisti from Miami Beach, Rabbi Avraham Hecht from New York, Hal and Mark Blenstein from Philadelphia, Benjamin Cohen from Los Angeles, Howard Friedman from Philadelphia, and George Mastenger from New York.

What else can I say? Israel is turning into a police state.

region. We gathered today to pay respect to Nahum Hoss and Yehuda Partush who

were killed on the 18th of Adar - three days after Purim - last year.

I have visited the ancient Jewish cemetery in Hebron dozens of times, usually

showing tourists the different plots, some of which are over 500 years old. I

always stop near the graves of these five men and briefly tell their individual

stories. But today, and not just today, but anytime we gather in the cemetery

for a memorial service, the feeling, the sense of loss, is different.

And as I stood, looking at the graves of my friends, asking myself what they

had died for, why did we have to be standing here, ....... suddenly by beeper

started vibrating. I pulled it out, and read the message:

"A few minutes ago Rav Yitzhak Ginsburgh received an administrative detention

order, arresting him for 60 days in the Sharon prison. The order was signed by

the minister of defense Shimon Peres. Rav Ginsburgh, dean of students at the Od

Yosef Chai Yeshiva in Shechem, and of the Menucha Rachel Kollel in Hebron, has

been under administrative order forbidding him from entering Yehuda and

Shomron for six months."

And I ask myself, after such horrific events as those that have plagued us for

the last few weeks, doesn't anyone pay any attention? In Judaism we are

required to perform a 'heshbon nefesh' - that is, an in-depth introspective contemplation, searching for ways to improve ourselves, looking back at what we did - how could it have been different - how could we have improved our actions, our deeds. We do a ‘heshbon nefesh’ especially during times of crisis, both personal and national. How, in the name of the L-rd, can a national leader, following the deaths of so many people by Arab terrorists, after having released so many convicted terrorists from Israeli prisons, possibly arrest a Torah scholar of the caliber of Rav Yitzhak Ginsburgh on an administrative detention order?

Won’t they ever learn?

This morning an appeals court in Tel-Aviv ordered that Rav Ido Elba, be immediately released from prison. Rav Elba, convicted for having supposedly authored a theoretic halachic (Jewish legal) treatise concerning the killing of non-Jewish enemies, was denied parole after serving two-thirds of his two year sentence. The Israeli intelligence services opposed his release on the grounds that he is ‘spiritually dangerous.’ Last week, Rav Elba’s father passed away after a long bout with cancer. Rav Elba had originally been allowed to visit his ailing father once every two weeks for two hours. The ruling authorities loosen their grip after being approached by several notable public servants, and allowed him to visit his father once every ten days. After his father’s death, we wasn’t granted a ‘vacation’ as are most prisoners under similar circumstances, rather he was accompanied by prison guards, in handcuffs, to the cemetery. Only after an hour and a half delay, during which time a second permit had to be obtained, was he allowed to attend the service at the funeral home in Jerusalem. The next day, following pressure from over 20 MK’s, was he allowed to go to his parent’s home to sit shiva. This morning the appeals court ordered his immediate release from prison. The State attorneys immediately announced that they were appealing the decision.

One of those mourning the murder of Nahum Hoss was Rav Moshe Levinger, serving a seven month prison sentence for ‘pushing a soldier’ five years ago on Yom Kippur, when Arabs almost started a riot during prayers. Rav Levinger, after intervention by various officials, was allowed to attend today’s memorial service at the cemetery. Nahum Hoss was his right-hand man. They worked together for years. Today Nahum Hoss lies dead in Hebron’s cemetery - Rav Levinger is in jail.

Can their be any greater absurdity? Shimon Peres, Prime Minister of Israel, is involved in releasing hundreds of Arab terrorists from jail, giving the Arabs Eretz Yisrael, arresting Rabbis, and preparing ‘major international conferences on combating terrorism.’ And we stand in front of the graves of the ‘sacrifices for piece.’ And I keep asking myself , what do we have to do to make these people understand. And the truth is, I don’t have an answer.

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"...I remember very well our last telephone conversation. You called home and told me that you were going to Jerusalem to buy a door knob for our front door. As was your wont, you asked me,
‘Avigail, is their anything else you need from Jerusalem?’ And you added, ‘Don’t worry, by eight I’ll be home.’

Yes Nahum, you arrived to your true home, your reached the eternal home, and perhaps with the door-handle, you opened the door to the Garden of Eden here in Hebron, in the place where you said, "they’ll never get me out of Hebron, only in a casket!’ And you were right Nahum, no one will ever take you from here, here, under the layers of dust, under the sacred earth of Hebron, you are buried, side-by-side with the others holy ones, and with those murdered in 1929.

You left us in shock, mute, in pain, and the heart refuses to believe, to be comforted, for the enormous loss, for I miss you so, we all do...

During your life you sanctified the name of G-d, and with your death you made the supreme sacrifice to sanctify the name of G-d, in the place you so loved ...."

Writing with tears in my eyes,

Your wife, Avigail

(From ‘Nachamu Ami - Nahum Hoss Hy"d, Ish Hevron’

Edited by Rav Mordechai Artzi

Available [in Hebrew] for $25. from:

The Jewish Community of Hebron

POB 105 Kiryat Arba, Israel 90010)

Hanukkah - Hebron Today

Hebron-Past,Present and Forever
by David Wilder
Hanukkah - Hebron Today

December 15, 1995

In May 1967-less than a month before the `Six-day War,
our beloved teacher, Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook, of blessed
memory, on the 19th anniversary of Israeli Independence,
said,
"In those first hours (after the UN vote in Nov. 1947-
Ed. note) I couldn't accept what had been done, with that
awful message, that the prophecy was fulfilled - `My Land
has been divided'! Where is our Hebron - Will we forget
her? And where is our Shechem - Are we forgetting her?
And where is our Jericho - Are we forgetting her? And
where is our Jordan Valley? Where is each speck of earth,
every piece of ground, every square meter of our G-d's
land? Is it in our hands to concede even one millimeter?
No! No!"

Then, one month later, our Hebron, our Shechem, our
Jericho, our Jordan Valley - return - back where they
belong, in the hands of the Jewish People, in the Land of
Israel- part of the State of Israel. Given to us by
HaShem, crowned by the glory of Temple Mount - Jerusalem
- under Jewish rule, for the first time in two thousand
years.

And now, today, almost thirty years later, we are
relinquishing our G-d-given rights, our G-d-given land,
the government of Israel is handing Yehuda, Shomron and
Azza to Arab terrorists, to murderers of men, women and
children. Last week Shechem - the city of Yosef
HaTzadik. We saw, with our own eyes, how Israeli
soldiers, disgraced and despised, yelled at, spit it,
with the Israeli flag burning in the background, ran for
their lives, leaving the holy city of Shechem to the
terrorists. This is peace? Next week, the birthplace of
David HaMelech - home of Kever Rachel - our Matriarch who
lies for eternity five minutes from Jerusalem -
BeitLechem. Our buses and cars, traveling from Jerusalem
to Hebron and from Hebron to Jerusalem, pass Kever
Rachel, allowing us to murmur a brief prayer as we pass
by. And next week - no more - no longer will we see the
dome-covered tomb - no longer will we murmur a prayer as
we pass by Rachel's tomb - because the road will no
longer belong to us - it is being transferred to
murderers.

This week in Hebron we experienced a series of miracles,
each one bigger than the last. One night our home at
Beit Hadassah was shot at. The next day Arabs threw hand
grenades at soldiers. The grenades exploded but, thank G-
d, no one was injured. Then on Thursday a 23 year-old
terrorist jumped and stabbed two elderly men, Jews from
Kiryat Arba who come to learn each day in Ma'arat
HaMachpela. Fortunately the men weren't badly hurt,
thanks to the quick, alert reaction of a nearby border
policeman who shot and killed the terrorist while he was
still stabbing the victims. And I haven't mentioned the
fire bombs thrown at both military and civilian vehicles
numerous times daily.


Hebron is scheduled to be next on the list. Next week
the first `palestinian police will arrive in the city.
What are we to do? I can first tell you what we don't
do. This past week Mr. Uri Elitzor, a `leader' of the
Jewish right, a man of intelligence and stature,
presently the editor of `Nikuda,' the major publication
of Yesha, called for us to accept the Oslo Accords and to
open a dialogue with the Palestinian Authority. This, my
friends, is what we don't do. We do not, under any
circumstances, give legitimization to cold-blooded
killers of innocent people. These people, if they may be
termed as such, have one goal: to occupy all of
`Palestine, ' which is presently known as the State of
Israel. Arafat said it again in Shechem - "in blood and
fire we will occupy Jerusalem" - and for him Jerusalem
includes both the east and west sides of the city, but
that's not all. For those of you who still find it hard
to believe, see the `palestinian' home page on the World
Wide Web (http://192.203.180.62/mlas/palestin.html).
When you open up this page you will see, on the left, a
palestinian flag. On the right is a picture of Mr
Terrorist. In the middle, try and identify the sketch.
On the top is the `Dome of the Rock' occupying the Holy
of Holies on Temple Mount. Under that is a map - a map
of all of Eretz Yisrael - the State of Israel. Yes, this
is, in their eyes, Palestine - `their land - their State.

With these people we will begin a discussion? We
will accept their presence in the heart of Israel, in all
of Judea, Samaria, and Azza? We will legitimize their
pursuit for continued conquest, using murder as an
effective means to gain their goals? Absolutely not. I
call on Mr. Elitzur to recognize his error and retract
his statement. All of us, living through these difficult
times sometimes face periods of weakness. I have no
doubt that Uri Elitzur will recover the strength that
has, in the past, been a pillar of hope and fortitude to
us all. We must remember that our goal is not to kill,
not to maim, not to transfer anybody outside of Israel.
Our goal is to live in Israel, all of Israel, peacefully.
Anyone and everyone accepting Jewish presence and Jewish
sovereignty in all of the Land of Israel, is welcome to
live with us. Those objecting may leave and live
elsewhere. Those who attack us must know that we will
not only defend ourselves, but that we too, not as
individuals but as a nation, under the leadership of a
legitimate government, will initiate, will strike back
and will scatter our mortal enemies to the edges of the
earth. We will not let terrorist killers determine how
we live and where we live.

If now, we seem to be fighting an uphill battle, or
perhaps, as some see it, a losing battle, as perhaps does
Mr. Uri Elitzor, we must remember: the Jewish People have
always fought uphill battles, from the days of Avraham
Avinu, to the days of the Maccabees, to the days David
Ben Gurion. And we have been victorious. We need only
faith - faith in our G-d in heaven who gives us our
strength, and faith in what we are doing, knowing that
what we are doing is right. If we look where we have
come from and where we are going to, we will reach the
peak, we will reach our goal, we will be victorious.
Happy Hanukkah.

Speaking your Piece (or is it Peace)?

Hebron-Past,Present and Forever
Speaking your Piece (or is it Peace)?

Sunday, October 29, 1995

 Last week the President of the State of Israel, Mr.

Ezer Weitzman, made some unkind remarks about the Piece

plan. In particular he said that the "agreement isn't an

agreement" and that a one-vote majority in the Knesset

does not justify the withdrawal from Judea, Samaria and

Azza. He also attacked the government's reactions to

"settler" dismay - "They live there and have something to

worry about".

Following Weizmann's remarks, MK Dedi Zucker of

Meretz suggested passing a law forbidding the President

to comment on issues being publicly disputed.

Ezer Weizmann isn't one of my favorite people. But

he has come a long way. It is true, he has done some

pretty good things in the past. Like in June, 1967, when

he was Commander of the Israeli Air Force. At that time,

the Commander in Chief of the Israeli Defense Forces

(Yizhak Rabin) had a nervous breakdown and we were in

need of some leadership. Ezer saved the day by taking

over for Yitzhak.

But the same Ezer, invited along to Camp David with

Menachem Begin, advised the then Prime Minister to accept

the agreement forcing Israel to relinquish all of the

Sinai to Egypt and to grant the "Palestinians" in the

"West Bank" autonomy.

And the same Ezer was kicked out of the Israeli

Cabinet by Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir for giving "how

to create my own homeland" lessons to Yassir Arafat.

Well, Arafat did his homework. And so we are where we

are today.

In the not too distant past, the Israeli left has

vehemently decried any suggestion of `transfer' of Arabs

out of Israel - transfer of any type, even voluntary.

However, they today, are the primary force in favor of

involuntary transfer - of Jews - our of Hebron.

Jews can live anywhere in the world - to even

theoretically consider otherwise would be thought of as

blatantly anti-Semitic - except for Hebron, or perhaps

other areas in Judea, Samaria and Azza. And maybe also

Jerusalem. What would happen, for example, if Jews were

told that they could not live in, say, Hawaii? Can you

imagine the public outburst? Jews and gentiles, blacks,

whites, and Hispanics would march down 5th Ave together,

arm in arm, protesting this unheard of act of racism.

But tell a Jew that he can't live in Hebron, a 3,700 year-

old Jewish City? So, what of it?

Let's go back to Mr. President. You must understand

that the office of President in Israel is largely a

figurehead position. The President is elected, not by

the people, but by the Knesset, for a five year term of

office. The job was originally offered to (Ezer's uncle)

Chaim Weizmann by David Ben Gurion in 1948, in order to

fulfill an obligation without relinquishing any power or

responsibility. (When he died, it was offered to Albert

Einstein.) Until the 1970's the job was filled primarily

by non-politicians.

Ezer Weizmann, before his election, it was feared,

would represent only part of the country - the part

agreeing with his political philosophies, which are

slightly further left of left. He promised to be the

President of ALL the people, and woe-and-behold - he is

being accused of representing the wrong side, BY HIS OWN

PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED HIM. And now they really

want to shut him up.

Why? Because he is mouthing what everybody it

thinking. In a poll released on Friday, some 67% of the

Israeli population agree with him. That means, in

short, that the public is against the Rabin-Peres-Arafat

conspiracy to rid the Jewish People of Hebron and

Jerusalem. And with elections in the air, this doesn't

sit well with the ruling triumvirate. So, what do you

do? You try to pass a law shutting up the negative

voices.

And who is the victim? None other than the

schoolteacher. President Ezer Weizmann. Get this:

Everybody in Israel is covered by freedom of speech

....... except the President. He has to shut up. After

all, he's the President. Got it? Good.

This is modern Israeli democracy in action.

Welcome, Mr. President, to the club.

Mordechai the Tzaddik

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever
by David Wilder

Mordechai the Tzaddik

15 Tishrei 5756
Sunday, October 15, 1995

Friday afternoon I came home from one of the most

exhilarating experiences I've had in a long, long time.

Hebron had a very special visitor - Mordechai ben David.

Mordechai ben David, for those of you who may not know,

is THE number one Hasidic singer - responsible for such

hits as "Mashiach" "Samchenu" and his current "Mitzvah

Gedola L'hiot b'simcha Tamid" (It's a big mitvah to

always be happy).

Hebron sponsored a number of major events over the

Succot holiday, including two music festivals, featuring

Mordechai ben David and Dedi Graucher. Conducted and

directed by composer Moshe `Mona" Rosenblum, the concerts

took place in Haifa on Wednesday night, to a capacity

crowd of 3,000, and in Tel-Aviv's Yad Eliyahu Sports

Center on Thursday evening to almost to 10,000 swinging

Hebron supporters.

The evening began with short speeches by Chief Rabbi

Yisrael Meir Lowe, who stressed the importance of "Eretz

Yisrael HaShlema" (the greater Israel), Tel Aviv Mayor

Roni Milo, who said, "if Jews don't have the right to

live in Hebron, which is over 3,700 years old, what is

our right to live in Tel Aviv, which is less than 100

years old?!", Noam Arnon, spokesman of the Jewish

Community of Hebron, MK Zevulun Hammer, Party leader of

the National Religious Party, and Likud MK Bibi

Netanyahu, who will hopefully be elected the next Prime

Minister of Israel. Netanyahu emphasized the major

problem plaguing Israel today, which in his words, is

EDUCATION. "Today's youth is ignorant of true Jewish

values, emanating from the Bible, and other Jewish

literature. When the Likud returns to lead the country,

we will make education our number one priority, and

educate our youth with the values evident in the children

living in Hebron."

The first of the two major features of the evening

was Dedi Graucher, who performed wonderfully for an hour.

Before his performance the packed audience viewed the new

Hebron sound and light show, Hebron, City of the

Patriarchs. This 15 minute feature radiates the lights

of Hebron, Past, Present and Future.

At 10:20PM Mordechai ben David took center stage and

gave the audience a performance never to be forgotten.

He sang one song with Dedi Graucher and dueted with "boy

wonder" Yehuda Ma'atuf from Kfar Habad for two numbers.

Singing until almost 11:45PM, ben David kept the crowd

clapping, swinging and on its feet until the very end.

On Friday morning Mordechai visited Hebron. Leaving

Jerusalem at 7:30 in the morning and accompanied by two

full buses, he arrived at Ma'arat HaMachpela for morning

services. The entire entourage received an in-depth

explanation of the Ma'ara and its history from Noam

Arnon, had breakfast in the huge Succah outside the

Ma'ara and split into two groups to tour Hebron. I had

the privilege to spend the next few hours with Mordechai

and his friends. We visited the Avraham Avinu

neighborhood and the Avraham Avinu Synagogue and then

traveled up to Tel-Rumeida, home of Hebron's most

infamous citizen, Baruch Marzel, who is still under house

arrest (for over a year)! Mordechai dedicated one of his

songs during the concert to Marzel and when he saw him in

Hebron hugged him and danced with him. Baruch gave the

guests a guided tour of the area, including Kever Rut and

Ishi, the tombs of Ruth and Jesse (King David's father).

Mordechai was photographed with almost all the soldiers

in the area, at his request. He entered a small base and

wished all present a happy New Year and a happy Festival.

After visiting Beit Hadassah, Mordechai sang and

danced his way up to the roof of Beit Shneerson, to the

Succah of the Heikan family. There he sang and danced

with Hebron's children for over 20 minutes, bringing

smiles and laughter to the faces of all. It was a truly

joyous event.

When the buses left back to Jerusalem at 2:00PM,

Mordechai ben David left a community of hand-clapping,

singing residents, who had the opportunity to enjoy two

of the star-singers appearances - one on stage and one in

person in Hebron. It was a day to remember.

Oh Say Can You See

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever
Oh Say Can You See

September 16, 1995

Flag-mania has hit Hebron. International news crews are aiming their cameras

at the Kordova Girls School, located directly across the street from Beit

Hadassah and Beit Schneerson in the center of Hebron. The reason for the

attention: a "palestinian flag" raised on the roof of the building by its

present occupants.

For the last week or so flag ping-pong has bounced the colored cloth

up and down the flagpole. First, a few facts. At the end of last week it was

reported that ‘settlers' had attacked and beat Palestinian school girls. This

"unprovoked attack" was denounced by the American government. What really

happened? Very simply - the girls from the school decided to hold a special

"parade" down the main street of Hebron, through the Beit Hadassah

neighborhood. One of our good neighbors from Kiryat Arba, present at the

time, saw a big palestinian flag waving in the air, and removed it. He also

made a little bit of noise in the process, speaking his mind to the girls

carrying the flag. The girls, stripped of their flag, and it seems, also of

their bravery, panicked and began running every which way, including into each

other. The resulting news reports were that settlers had beat the girls. So

much for objective reporting.

Several days before this, on the same day that 13 Likud Knesset

members visited Hebron, Abraham Avinu neighborhood residents found a

palestinian flag adorning the skyline several meters away from their

buildings. The flag was atop a Waqf office building, adjacent to the

neighborhood. (The Waqf is the religious-political arm of Islam - they

control, among other places, Temple Mount in Jerusalem and to a great degree,

Ma'arat HaMachpela in Hebron.) The flag flew over the building all day. Only

that evening was it "mysteriously" removed and burned. So far it hasn't

reappeared.

On Tuesday of this week following the reappearance of the flag over

the Kordova school, and its abrupt removal by "unidentified" perpetrators, MK

David Zucker from the Meretz Party, visited the area. He told reporters that

the "settlers are the ugly side of Israel" and encouraged the principal of the

school. He told her to keep flying the flag.

What is official Israeli policy concerning palestinian flags? Private

citizens are "allowed" to fly flags, but they may not be flown over public

buildings. Major General Ilan Biran (who, in the past has not been known as a

"good friend" of Hebron, but has as of late, began changing his tune) has

specifically issued an order forbidding that the flag be flown from the school

building.

On Wednesday the flag made its grand appearance, once again, in the

morning. This time, MK Shaul Guttman, formerly of Moledet, assisted in

removing it. Havoc broke loose. Soldiers, police, Arabs and Jews appeared on

the scene. Two young policewomen attempted to arrest one of the Jewish women

who had participated in removing the flag. She resisted, and ran away. When

they finally caught up with her and handcuffed her, MK Guttman snapped the

second handcuff on himself. When they both disappeared, the police had to

arrest someone else in her place, so they found another victim. She was

arrested and charged with beating police and clawing them. (I can attest -

she has almost no finger nails and is about 5 feet tall, maybe. - Extremely

dangerous!)

I also spent the day in the police station. Why? In the middle of the

ruckus, an Arab appeared, carrying what looked like an eleven or twelve-year

old girl in his arms. She had been "attacked and injured" during the

struggle. She was so "seriously" injured that an ambulance was requested.

After she had been prepared for the journey to the hospital (less than five

minutes away) another young "victim" appeared on the site. She also needed

"immediate, emergency" medical attention. When the ambulance driver finally

finished preparing the two "victims of the peace process" he found that the

keys to the ambulance were missing. Not wanting to admit his negligence, he

pointed his finger at someone in the crowd - "There he is - he stole the

keys." And the thief was, none other than, yours truly. Several police

surrounded me and demanded the keys. I told them that I didn't know what they

were talking about, but of course, the word of an Arab against a Jew is the

epitome of truth. So, I was searched, (twice if I recall correctly). After

not finding the missing keys, I was ordered remanded for further investigation

and taken to the Hebron Police Station. There I was held, with three other

men, from 11:45 until about 5:30 that evening. I spent the day talking to

several policemen whose feelings for Rabin, Peres and Co. are harsher (if that

can be imagined) than mine. At 5:30PM a policeman asked for my name, id card

number and address, and sent me home. I wasn't questioned, warned, or

released on bail. Very simply sent home. I have the impression that they

didn't know why I was being held. I was never accused of anything nor was I

told specifically why I was being held. So rather than working that day, I

spent the day in the company of the men in blue.

Of course on Thursday it happened again. This time the police and

soldiers took things into their own hands and removed the flag before anyone

else had the opportunity. The results of that were demonstrations by about 60

Arabs on the street in front of Beit Hadassah and by Beit Romano, the home of

Yeshivat Shavei Hebron. Both demonstrations were broken up by security

forces.

Why do we make such a big deal over the flag? Is it really worth all

the trouble? The palestinian flag represents two major fronts which we will

not compromise with. First, it represents foreign sovereignty in Hebron.

Hebron is a Jewish city, the first Jewish City, and it is an integral part of

the State of Israel. We totally reject any display of foreign sovereignty in

our city.

The flag also represents terrorism, blood and murder. The flag

represents an institution which comprises terrorists who have, in the past,

proclaimed that the Jews must be "thrown into the sea." They have murdered

and continue to murder. They wipe their hands of Jewish blood on their flag.

While it is true that it is almost impossible for us to remove all of

the palestinian flags in the city or throughout Yesha, we see no reason to

allow them to be flown in front of our noses in the middle of our

neighborhoods. Any acceptance on our part of the palestinian flag in

neighborhoods where we live is tantamount to acceptance of palestinian

sovereignty in Hebron. This will never happen.

The Ways of the Righteous

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever
The Ways of the Righteous

September 6, 1995

If yesterday I wrote about Satan dressed up as humans, today I am obligated to speak about the other side. And there is another side.

A half hour ago I came home from an unbelievably joyous occasion -

happy for several reasons: 1. A wedding in Hebron is always a festive event;

2. This wedding took place in the courtyard directly outside the Caves of the

Patriarchs, attended by about 1,000 guests; 3. The wedding was that of Kfir

Katzover and his new bride Orit. Kfir is the son of Kiryat Arba Mayor Zvi

Katzover. 4.The special guest of honor was none other than Ariel Sharon, who

made a special trip to Hebron for the wedding.

Zvi Katzover has been mayor of Kiryat Arba for the past five plus

years. He has had to deal with some of the most complicated issues one can

possibly imagine. From the ‘intifada' to murderous terrorist attacks, from

the government's policy of ‘let's dry them up' and ‘give them back to the

Arabs' to the Baruch Goldstein affair, Zvi has had to function. And he has

done so with overwhelming success. That success can be measured by the

results of the local elections held in Kiryat Arba several months ago. Zvi

received 80% of the popular vote for Mayor, and his list for the town council

won six of nine seats. And if one takes into account the political

divergences among the Kiryat Arba population, made up of about 6,000 citizen,

consisting of Jews of every background possible, this is truly amazing.

Before entering politics Zvi spent most of his waking hours in Hebron.

One of the first people to reenter Hebron, Zvi opened up the popular ‘Jewish

Settlers' Restaurant and Gift Shop', outside Ma'arat HaMachpela. Before the

beginning of the ‘intifada' Zvi employed seven employees on a regular basis,

selling not only souvenirs, but also dealing with fine jewelry and precious

stones. One of his veteran workers told me that even during the dry spells,

Zvi refused to fire employees. They would sit in the store, drinking coffee

or tea, playing backgammon. The dry spells always ended, and the visitors

arrived, that is, until the intifada drastically cut back tourist visits to

the area.

Today, Zvi's building has been taken over by the Jewish Community of

Hebron and is being transformed into a guest house. And Zvi is Mayor of

Kiryat Arab. Tonight Zvi and his wife Yehudit married their first son, under

the stars, by Ma'arat HaMachpela. Over 100 tables, colored lights, a band,

and hundreds of people, singing and dancing, filled the courtyard outside the

Caves of the Patriarchs. Such an unbelievable sight, just overwhelming. Zvi

and Yehudit Katzover brought people from all over the country to celebrate in

Hebron, the city of the Patriarchs. In Hebrew we call this a ‘Kiddush HaShem'

or a Sanctification of the Divine Name. There is no stronger way to express

our connection to a location than by celebrating there - exhibiting our

happiness publicly, for all to see. And believe me, it was well seen.

Something like this is very hard to ignore. The Arabs, the police, the

soldiers, everyone, they all saw and heard Jews singing and dancing and

celebrating the birth of a new couple, the beginnings of a new family, in the

middle of Hebron.

The Guest of Honor was, as I mentioned earlier, Ariel Sharon. This man is

truly amazing. He was in Hebron last Friday morning with MK Moshe Peled, to

show support for the Jewish Community in the city. He arrives in Hebron time

after time, bringing with him visitors from all over the world. Some of them,

like Australian Chabad Rabbi Joseph Gutnick, have become major supporters of

the Hebron Jewish Community. Rabbi Gutnick has contributed to both the guest

house and also to the reconstruction efforts of Yeshivat Shavei Hebron, housed

in Beit Romano. The Yeshiva presently claims a student body of 200 pupils.

When the construction is finished, the building will be able to house five

hundred Torah Scholars. And Arik Sharon is largely responsible for this.

Sharon is one of the few people around today who is willing to speak

the truth. Tonite, for instance, he said: "If the Arabs want to live with us

together, they can. It isn't easy, but it can be done. But only if they

realize that the Jews are here to stay. If they want to live with us, fine,

but if they think they can push us into a corner, there is a limit as to how

far they'll be able to go. If they push too hard they must realize that it

won't be the Jews that will no longer be in Hebron - it will be them that will

be forced to leave."

Referring to comments made that too many soldiers have to protect such

a ‘small' number of Jews in Hebron, Sharon replied: "First of all, Hebron

isn't just four or five hundred Jews. Kiryat Arba is Hebron too. Kiryat Arba

and Hebron are one. But aside from that, the army isn't here just to protect

the Jews in Hebron. They are here because of the Jewish Cemetery, containing

graves of Jews that lived here hundreds of years ago. The army is here

because this is the city where King David ruled for seven years before

settling Jerusalem. This land, today called Tel Rumeida, should always be in

Jewish hands. The army must be here because of Beit Hadassah and Beit Kastel

and Beit Hasson, the army must be here because of the Jewish Quarter and the

Avraham Avinu Synagogue. And of course, because of the Caves of the

Patriarchs. Who can imaging that the Caves of the Patriarchs will not be in

Jewish hands?!"

Mentioning government plans to redeploy, Arik Sharon declared: "I hope

that the government will not remove the army from Hebron. But if they do,

they should know that hundreds of volunteers will come here to help protect

the Jews that live in the City of the Patriarchs".

Ariel Sharon has made mistakes in the past, but I don't know of too

many people that haven't. Today, he is, in my book, a true hero. He isn't

afraid of the truth and he isn't afraid to speak the truth. Most politicians

act like they are walking on eggs - Arik doesn't. He says what has to be said,

and more importantly, he acts - he does. He is a doer. In the Israeli

vernacular, he is a bulldozer. And credit should be given, where credit is

due.

In the past I have advertised fax numbers, with requests that you

demonstrate solidarity with Hebron via fax protests. Today I request the

opposite. Please fax Zvi Katzover, Mayor of Kiryat Arba, with a letter of

Mazal Tov - good wishes on the marriage of his son Kfir. Tell him how happy

you are the wedding was conducted by the walls of Ma'arat HaMachpela in the

center of Hebron. And fax Arik Sharon, wishing him well, and expressing your

support of his many activities for Hebron. Even people like Ariel Sharon like

to know that they are appreciated. And Arik deserves our whole-hearted

appreciation. As does Zvi Katzover.

Fax Ariel Sharon at: 972-2-753896

Fax Zvi Katzover at: 972-2-9964277