Hebron Articles-Aug-Oct, 1998
David Wilder
Rotten Fish
October 25, 1998
"If Jews do not have a right to live in
"In addition, it is not difficult to anticipate that the palestinian organizations, after receiving all that they demand from Israel, will renew, with greater vigor, terror attacks against Jews, before they declare total war…The significance of ceding land to the PLO is transfer to terrorist forces and Islamic fundamentalists. As a continuation of the implementation of the Oslo Accords, this will cause
"Today's a day when Israel and our entire region are more secure…We are more secure today because, for the first time since the signing of the Oslo accords, we will see concrete and verifiable commitments carried out…Our Palestinian partners will join us in fighting terrorism. I want to thank Chairman Arafat. Mr. Chairman, your cooperation was invaluable."
So, which is correct?
The first two paragraphs are quoted from the introduction to "A Place Among the Nations" authored by Binyamin Netanyahu in 1995 (freely translated from the Hebrew edition, pages 17-18).
The third paragraph is quoted from Binyamin Netanyahu's speech in the White House, Friday October 23, 1998.
What is the major problem with the agreement signed a few days ago? Of course, the fact that
A close examination of the agreement reveals the following:
*Concerning the third abandonment, known as the 3rd further redeployment, of which Arafat is demanding another 40% and Israel has declared a willingness to part with only 1%: there will be a committee to address this question. The
*Concerning terror and violence. A work plan developed by the Palestinian side will be shared with the
*In addition to the bilateral Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation, a U.S.-Palestinian committee will meet biweekly to review the steps being taken to eliminate terrorist cells and the support structure that plans, finances, supplies and abets terror. In these meetings, the Palestinian side will inform the U.S…
* A U.S.-Palestinian committee will meet to review and evaluate information pertinent to the decisions on prosecution, punishment or other legal measures which affect the status of individuals suspected of abetting or perpetrating acts of violence or terror.
*In addition, the Palestinian side will establish and vigorously and continuously implement a systematic program for the collection and appropriate handling of all such illegal items in accordance with the prior agreements. The
*A U.S.-Palestinian-Israeli committee will be established to assist and enhance cooperation in preventing the smuggling or other unauthorized introduction of weapons or explosive materials into areas under Palestinian jurisdiction.
* A U.S.-Palestinian-Israeli committee will meet on a regular basis to monitor cases of possible incitement to violence or terror, and to make recommendations and reports on how to prevent such incitement. The Israeli-Palestinian and
*In addition to the bilateral Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation, a high-ranking U.S.-Palestinian-Israeli committee will meet as required and not less than biweekly to assess current threats…
*The Palestinian side will provide a list of its policemen to the Israeli side in conformity with the prior agreements.Should the Palestinian side request technical assistance, the U.S. has indicated its willingness to help meet these needs in cooperation with other donors.
*Concerning legal assistance in criminal matters, the requests for arrest and transfer of suspects and defendants: The U.S. has been requested by the sides to report on a regular basis on the steps being taken to respond to the above requests.
What exactly does
The implications of this agreement are far reaching.
1.
2. Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to a 'summit clause.' Should their occur major stumbling blocks between Arafat and
3. The
4. The
Is this a responsible decision of an independent state? Can
What can be done?
Last night hundreds of Jews congregated outside Ma'arat HaMachpela in
Those of you who are citizens of the
This morning a friend told me the following story:
A citizen of the kingdom broke the law and was taken before the King. The King, hearing the crime, offered the offender three choices: Eat a piece of rotten fish, receive 40 lashes, or be exiled. The prisoner thought for a few minutes. "Forty lashes is too much, and to be exiled, that is so harsh. So, I'll eat the rotten fish - no big deal."
He was given a plate of rotten fish and began to eat. After a few bites he was in such agony that he pushed it away and pleaded, "I agree to the 40 lashes." After five lashes he felt that he would die, and cried out, "No more - I will go into exile."
After leaving the kingdom, the he told his story to a wise man in a far off country. The wise man looked at him and said:
"So stupid you are. You ate the rotten fish, you received the lashes and now you are in exile. The king offered you one punishment and you brought upon yourself all three?"
Dominos
October 22, 1998
As of this writing, the negotiations at Wye are continuing, more or less as expected. This is a classic example of 'give and take.'
Why is Netanyahu caving in at Wye? What is he going to do when he gets back to
A very reliable source disclosed to me that Netanyahu has confided that 'without an agreement, I won't be reelected.' His reasoning is simple Following initial agreement to this 'further redeployment' which is nothing less than abandonment of an additional 27% of Eretz Yisrael, Netanyahu will have an easy time with the Israeli electorate. To those in favor of the accords, of centrist ideology, he will say, "I fulfilled our obligations. Arafat received
With the Israeli right, he also won't have a difficult time. The first round of elections will see several candidates for Prime Minister, including at least one representing the Israeli right. However, a Prime Minister cannot be elected without receiving 50% of the vote. A runoff is inevitable. Barring a miracle, the runoff will almost surely include Barak and Netanyahu. Netanyahu will then say to the right-wing electorate. 'You have two possibilities - nu, who are you going to vote for? Barak?'
All of this doesn't even take into account that Labor candidate Ehud Barak is not overly popular with anybody. In the end Netanyahu expects to be reelected with an overwhelming majority.
Why do we continue to firmly oppose this agreement? So many people have asked me why we can't accept this as the least of all evils. The answer is all too simple.
Earlier this week a terrorist by the name of Salem Rajib Sarsur threw some hand grenades into a crowd at the Beer Sheva Central Bus Station. Sixty seven people were wounded. Sarsur was apprehended. During his interrogation several very interesting facts were revealed.
On the night of August 20, Sarsur, armed with several firebombs took a little walk in
According to media reports, which have been confirmed, Israeli intelligence approached Sarsur prior to the murder, asking him to work for the Shabak. Sarsur refused.
On Yom Kippur, this same Sarsur, this time armed with hand grenades, and officially working for Hamas, took a walk from his home into an Arab cemetery, on the border between Arafat's
And so it was that Salem Sarsur managed to find himself in Beer Sheva, a few days ago, again with some more hand grenades.
Had Sarsur been looked for and apprehended following the Ra'anan murder, two other terrorist attacks and 75 injuries would have been avoided. Had he been searched out and caught after the Yom Kippur attack, the Beer Sheva attack would not have occurred.
This story does not begin or end with Salem Rajib Sarsur's murderous attacks and capture. He is only an example, an example of things to come, should the Wye-Why Accords be signed, sealed and implemented. But the story will not end at Wye, because Arafat wants, and expects to get, more. The same way that Sarsur continued to attack, as long as no one stood in his way, so it is with Arafat. And not only isn't anyone standing in Arafat's way. He is receiving assistance from not only
What we are witnessing is a chain of dominos, lined up in a row. The row isn't necessarily straight - there are winding bends along the way. But the result is the same once the first domino falls, the others aren't far behind. Sarsur's terrorist attacks in
Why Wye -
October 13, 1998
Yesterday afternoon two Jerusalem Braslaver Hassidim were immersing in a stream not far from
Netanyahu's reaction: This again goes to show how crucial it is that
This morning the Prime Minister, together with Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon flew to
According to the Arutz 7 internet news report, during yesterday's cabinet session Netanyahu reported the following breakdown of land to be abandoned to Arafat, in the event that an agreement should be reached:
"Prime Minister Netanyahu informed the Cabinet that 27.2% of Judea and
* 1% that will be transferred from Area C (total Israeli control) to Area A (total Palestinian control);
* 9% from Area C to Area B (Palestinian civilian control, Israeli security control);
* 3% from Area C to a special nature reserve status, under Israeli security control and where Palestinian construction will be forbidden;
* 14.2% that will go from Area B to Area A."
"In return,
In other words, 15% of Judea and
If there is any proof of Arafat's convictions, it is
The murder of Rabbi Shlomo Ra'anan
A shooting attack in Kiryat Arba
A shooting attack on the road to Tel Rumeida
A hand grenade attack on Israeli soldiers on Yom Kippur
Two shooting attacks on Beit Hadassah
This, in addition to rocks, bottles and firebombs.
The last year and a half can only be defined as a qualified catastrophe.
According to former defense minister Moshe Arens, in an article published in the Jerusalem Post (October 9):
"Almost two years later, even the government that signed the agreement has to admit that it has turned out to be an abject failure.
For the Jewish community of
What will happen in
During Camp David II, Netanyahu is surrounding himself with a mixed lot: Yitzhak Mordechai may be equated with his
In truth, we can ask - Why Wye - why go to Wye at all? Why should Bibi go to Wye and help save Bill Clinton?
The Wye meeting may be a summit, a true high point, if Bibi comes home declaring that Oslo is all over, without shaking Arafat's hand, without signing away anymore of Eretz Yisrael. Should Netanyahu crumble to
Heads or Tails
October 2, 1998
Yesterday evening four members of
Early in the morning several
On this note,
Netanyahu was pounced upon. A finger pointed at him he was asked, "Do you know who is responsible for the terrorist attack here in
The questions continued. "What did you do three hours after a woman was shot at and hit in
"And what are you going to do now? Put Beit El, Ofrah and other communities in the same situation
"Where are the tanks, Mr. Prime Minister?"
Netanyahu was clearly uncomfortable, but didn't yet answer.
Rabbi Hillel Horowitz related the personal anxiety his wife has suffered over the past month. He told the PM how his wife heard the horrible screams originating from the Ra'anan home, when Rabbi Shlomo Ra'anan was stabbed and killed by a terrorist. The Horowitz's caravan home is right next to the Ra'anan home. Last Monday his wife heard the gunshots fired at the Bar Mitzvah party walking down the road from Tel Rumeida. And then, on Yom Kippur, Naomi Horowitz was only meters from the hand grenade that exploded, blowing up a car on the side of the road. As she described it, "After the explosion I saw a ball of flame and shots rang out all around me. I thought I was in a war zone."
Netanyahu did reply, but it isn't quite clear exactly what he said. He promised building in
Netanyahu reiterated that
"Mr. Prime Minister - we have been attacked four times in the last five weeks. A murder, a shooting, hand grenades, rocks, - what are you going to do about it?"
Netanyahu talked for fifteen minutes, but didn't answer the question.
"Mr. Prime Minister, all well and good, but you didn't answer the question. What about our security in
Netanyahu talked some more.
"But Mr. Prime Minister, you still didn't answer the question….."
Did the meeting have any real results? Concrete results, no. Netanyahu didn't offer any viable solution to the mess he created when he signed and implemented the Hebron Accords. However, the PM did hear, straight from those whose lives are on the line, day and night, seven days a week, exactly what is going on in
Almost two weeks ago we all sat around our dining room tables and welcomed in the New Year. Following Kiddush and washing of our hands, a number of special blessing were recited, sort of as a sign for the New Year. One of those blessings we say is, "May it be Thy will, L-rd our G-d, that we will be like a head, and not like a tail."
Mr. Prime Minister - you cannot tell us any more tales. Everything is up front, all the cards are on the table. It is not just your office that is on the line, and it is not only our lives, the lives of 550 men, women and children, in
Mr. Prime Minister, enough stories, enough tales, - you must now make a choice. Are you, Binyamin Netanyahu, representing all of
Declaration of War
October 1, 1998
The Arabs have, officially, declared war on The Jewish Community of Hebron. This is, of course, not a secret. We have been talking about it for well over 10 years, since the outbreak of the Intifada. Then, we were ignored. Unfortunately, we are still being ignored.
One month ago an Arab terrorist climbed in through the bedroom window of Rabbi Shlomo Ra'anan in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood and murdered him. In the space of one week there have been two shooting attacks in the
How many of the perpetrators have been apprehended? Zero.
Why not? Very simply,
The Prime Minister, in a statement following yesterday's attack, blamed Arafat for not stopping terrorism. General Yitzhak Eitan, Commander of Forces in Judea and
Rubbish - Rubbish, and more Rubbish.
How can anyone in their right mind expect any of the Arab forces in
The Minister of Defense, Yitzhak Mordechai, is no less to blame than Netanyahu. He is a bone in our throats. He is, single handedly, preventing further building in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood, in spite of promises made by the Prime Minister after Rabbi Ra'anan's murder. Mordechai is interested in one thing, and one thing only: Quiet. And it seems that that is of such paramount importance that it makes no difference if the 'quiet' is achieved at the cost of Jewish blood. Mordechai, as chief of the armed forces, has the ability and the responsibility to give the orders necessary to provide security in
What do we want?
Prime Minister Netanyahu promised, before the implementation of the Hebron Accords, to provide full security in
Before the accords were implemented, we pointed at the hill tops and the roofs of the Arab houses surrounding us and told the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet, "If you give this to them, we will be shot at and attacked." Again, we were ignored. The Prime Minister has yet to remember his promises. It is time for him to start to fulfill his pledges. Enough of abandoning
The Prime Minister must expand the borders of the H2- Israeli controlled part of
The Prime Minister must also make clear to the Defense Minister the facts of life: either he does his job, or he goes home! A defense minister who prefers 'quiet' to security is not only worthless, he is dangerous. Not only does he endanger the security of
Netanyahu must not attend a 2nd '
I am asked frequently what will happen 'after the next redeployment.' I hope it will never happen, of course. But, should Netanyahu actually go through with it, he must know that his premiership has ended. His government will fall and he will not be reelected, come what may.
The fact of the matter is this: True, the Arabs have declared war on
Returning
Erev Yom Kippur 5759
September 29, 1998
What is more appropriate to write about on the eve of the Day of Atonement than Tshuva - which literally means 'returning.' Of course there are many-faceted aspects of tshuva. Perhaps it begins with that of an individual, and his yearning to better his ways, while making up for the wrongs committed.
There is also the tshuva, or return, not of a private person, but that of a nation.
When pondering how to best depict these two processes I found an example which must be shared. The story is true - and I will use the Hebrew names of those involved, because just about everyone who knows them, knows them by their English names.
I met Akiva and Leah about two years ago, here in Hebron They had been approached by my colleague Judy Grossman, who asked them if they wanted to come and visit
The next day they met two friends, who told them, "Have you been to
On Monday night Akiva called Judy and asked her, "do you still have room for us on the tour you originally invited us to, tomorrow?" Judy was a little surprised, because she knew that they had visited
So, they came back again on Tuesday for another tour, and they came back for Shabbat, that same week. When Judy and I were in the
About six months ago Leah, who teaches young children in Hebrew in a day school, asked if she could come to
Leah and Akiva did not grow up 'religious.' Only after they were married, with children, did they 'discover' religious Judaism. Today Akiva is director of a major national Jewish organization, which is instrumental in keeping Jews Jewish.
This couple is, for me, an ideal model of tshuva, of returning, on all levels. They are Torah observant Jews, having made a decision that 'this is the way Jews should live' and serve as an example to hundreds, if not thousands of others. Their Shabbat table is regularly attended by many many people, some of whom barely know that they are Jewish.
But their tshuva is not only private. Their active involvement in Eretz Yisrael, and specifically in
Akiva and Leah still live in the
Akiva and Leah are two people - and they are special people. But they are also examples of thousands and thousands of others who help, each in his own way, to the return to
A New Year in
September 17, 1998
This New Year is going to be very special for me and my family. For the last
17 years we lived in Kiryat Arba. Moving to Kiryat Arba was one of the best
decisions my wife and I ever made. Arriving 2 weeks before the birth of our
second child, we never regretted bringing up our family in this wonderful
town, only five minutes from Ma'arat HaMachpela and the center of
spite of the negative image portrayed by the media, Kiryat Arba is a
fabulous place to raise children. The atmosphere is generally relaxed, the
educational facilities excellent, and the people second to none.
However, a few weeks ago, we decided to move. There was a vacancy in
One of the families, due to a job opportunity, had to leave. My wife and I
talked about possibly moving in. We discussed it for a while and hadn't yet
made up our minds. But then the unthinkable happened: an Arab terrorist
climbed into the bedroom window of Rabbi Shlomo Ra'anan in Tel Rumeida and
murdered him. The day after his funeral I said to my wife, "That's it - we
have to move in, and the sooner the better." Actually I wanted to make the
move during the shiva, but for technical reasons that wasn't possible. But
soon after that we were setting up house in our new apartment in Beit
Hadassah.
A few of our friends looked at us as if we were crazy. A gentile
correspondent who interviewed me a few days ago commented, "either you are a
little crazy, or very, very spiritual."
Why make such a move? The answer is very simple. This is the only answer to
Arab terrorism. Their goal is to push us out of
Also, out of
means at their disposal, including political and psychological pressure,
violence, and even murder. In 1929 the massacre which left 67 dead led to
the swift removal of the surviving Jewish residents by the British. They
want us out again. So we have to do the opposite, which is, to move in. Of
course one family is not enough. We must bring in hundreds and thousands
more people to live in the City of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. And
eventually we will. At the moment we have a slight problem with space.
Unfortunately we haven't been able to build in years and all our apartments
are full. But soon this will change. Beit Nahum v'Yehuda will be finished
within a year. A new building, Beit HaShisha should also be ready for
occupancy during the next 12 months. And the Prime Minister himself promised
us real houses, to replace the caravans in the Admot Yishai-Tel Rumeida
neighborhood, including a doubling of the population there. With G-d's help
and a lot of hard work, we should soon see a real growth of
population.
So, for our family, it is this year in
memorializing the memory of Rabbi Ra'anan. This is the true Zionist solution
to Arab terrorism. And I have no doubt that living here, only minutes from
the 2nd holiest site to the Jewish people, is a truly spiritual experience.
I invite you to be my personal guest in
Yisrael. You too can be a part of the Zionist response to those who wish to
eradicate a Jewish presence in
On behalf of myself, Judy Grossman, Noam Arnon Rabbi Yitzhak Pechman, Dr.
Dov Stern, and the entire Jewish Community of Hebron, please accept our
blessings for a happy, healthy, sweet and truly peaceful New Year from
A Guiding Light - Rabbi Shlomo Ra'anan ZT"L HY"D
August 24, 1998
Last Thursday was one of those days that will remain indelibly embedded
in my memory for as long as I remain in this world. The day started off
very early, for special reasons. Only ten days annually are all of the
halls inside Ma'arat HaMachpela open to Jewish visitors and worshippers.
This past Thursday was one of those days. The reason for the occasion: The
next Saturday and Sunday commenced the last month of the Jewish year, the
month during which we prepare for the High Holy Days, beginning with Rosh
HaShana in exactly one month, and climaxing with Yom Kippur, ten days
later.
This particular day had special significance for me. Usually it is
forbidden to bring a video camera inside Ma'arat HaMachpela, (for reasons
unknown to anyone). However, I had received a permit to bring in such a
camera for a few hours in order to film the beautiful, and usually closed
Isaac Hall, as well as the other memorial rooms, the Abraham and Jacob
Halls. After morning prayers, together with a friend, I videotaped a short
documentary in each of these locations, in preparation for a future
CD ROM about
Later in the morning a group of 35 American tourists toured with me
throughout the city. The weather was nice and the group (including some
very well behaved children) interested in learning about
quite a few hours together and by the time they left, I felt like I'd put
in a fairly full day. Little did I know...
At about 8:00 that night I received word that former Chief Rabbi, the
Rishon l'Tzion, Rav Ovadiah Yosef was coming to
in twenty years. Rav Ovadiah Yosef heads up the Shas political party, which
has not been known for its support of keeping Eretz Yisrael. Rav Ovadiah's
Knesset faction steadily voted for the
created any great love for him among many people. Yet, known as a great
Torah scholar, when he decided to finally return to the city of
the news about his impending visit spread rapidly. I made my way upstairs
into the Ma'ara with my digital camera, ready to record the visit for our
internet site viewers around the world.
The Rabbi was supposed to arrive at about 9:00. He arrived at about 10:30,
together with hundreds of his followers. They packed the Isaac Hall,
everyone crowding in to be as close as possible to the spiritual-political
leader. One of the Rabbi's party led the assemblage in several Psalms and
then, at about 11:00 the group prayed the traditional evening prayers,
recited nightly by observant Jews.
I had prayed earlier and stood by, watching everyone else. As the service
drew to a close I saw a friend of mine lean over to speak with the present
Chief Rabbi, Rav Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron, who, in turn, spoke with Rav
Ovadiah. After a few moments Rav Ovadiah Yosef left the hall and Rav
Bakshi-Doron asked the others to repeat another Psalm, together with him. I
was already on my way out, hoping to get another picture of the Rabbi. But
then a friend of mine asked me if I'd heard anything about a stabbing in
Tel Rumeida. My response was negative, but my heart missed a beat. What was
he talking about? I quickly ran down the steps of the Ma'ara and called a
friend from my cell phone. "What happened?" He confirmed the rumor -
someone had been stabbed - come fast. The victim - Rabbi Shlomo Ra'anan.
"How is he," I asked and didn't get an answer. "Just come!"
I drove down the road a few minutes, until, when arriving at the Avraham
Avinu neighborhood an army roadblock wouldn't let me go any further. After
parking, I tried to walk down the street, but again soldiers attempted to
stop me. "Why - is this a closed military zone?! Show me the written
order." After a few moments some other people showed up, and together,
ignoring the soldier's demands, we walked on. I called a different friend.
"What happened?"
In a voice barely audible - "Rebbi Shlomo was stabbed."
"And how is he?"
"There wasn't anything I could do - he was stabbed in the heart -there was
a big hole in his chest - when I got there he still had a weak pulse, but
the room was on fire and we had to pull him out... he just died."
We walked on in stunned silence, refusing to believe what we'd just heard.
At the bottom of the steep hill, leading to the Tel Rumeida neighborhood,
again soldiers tried to block our way. However, their was no stopping us.
We ran around them and continued up the road. A few minutes later we
arrived, and perhaps wished we hadn't.
"What happened?"
"An Arab terrorist climbed in through the Ra'anan's bedroom window. Rebbi
Shlomo was getting ready to go to sleep. The Arab stabbed him three times
and then ran into the living room, where his wife, Haya, was sitting. When
the terrorist tried to attack her, Rebbi Shlomo stumbled out of his room
and attempted to pull the terrorist away. The terrorist again stabbed the
Rabbi, this time in the heart. He collapsed in his wife's arms. The
terrorist then fled back into the bedroom and hurled a firebomb into the
living room before leaving the house as he had entered, via the bedroom
window."
Neighbors, hearing agonizing screams from the normally quiet Ra'anan home,
ran to their aid. Seeing Haya Ra'anan, a nurse by profession, trying to
resuscitate her dying husband, they also suddenly noticed the smoke and
flames. One person quickly pulled the Rabbi outside and someone else
extinguished the flames. A neighborhood paramedic continued to treat Rabbi
Shlomo Ra'anan, but it was too late. There was nothing left to be done. At
63 years of age, the six year resident of Tel Rumeida, father of two boys
and one girl, grandfather, husband, brother, uncle, grandson and nephew of
the spiritual leaders of the modern Zionist movement, was dead, another
victim of Arab terror in
What can one do after such an awful act of terror? The
long demanded of the present administration fulfillment of promises of
expansion and development in
decision confirming the Hebron Accords in January 1997 guaranteed
reinforcement of
contains enough Jewish-owned land to construct 70 new housing units. What
would be more appropriate than immediate building permits, allowing us to
turn the tables on the terrorists whose sole objective is to eradicate the
city's Jewish community. They are trying to destroy us - we will react by
bringing in more and more people, building more and more houses. Rabbi
Shlomo Ra'anan cannot be brought back, but we can see to it that his life
and death, were not in vain.
This is one answer, but not the only one. There are two answers. The first,
and more important reaction must be this government's immediate end to
negotiations with Arafat, which will almost inevitably lead to continued
abandonment of land areas in Eretz Yisrael. The present proposal under
consideration will bring about abandonment of 728,000 dunam of land - which
is Tel Aviv 13 times over. This land will be used for a number of purposes:
Preparation of the next terrorist attack, and the one after that; and as a
place of refuge for the perpetrators, following their murderous assaults.
It is quite possible that 5 minutes after killing Rabbi Ra'anan, the
villain sat, calm and relaxed, sipping a cup of coffee, knowing that his
home, in the H1- Arafat controlled section of
Israeli army.
These are the only answers: 1) An immediate end to abandonment of Eretz
Yisrael and no more concessions to Arafat and 2) building, building and
more Jewish building, making sure that the Arabs understand that killing
men, women, and/or children will only strengthen our resolve.
WE WILL NOT RUN AWAY, WE WILL NOT BE SCARED AWAY. WE WILL CONTINUE IN THE
PATH OF RABBI SHLOMO RA'ANAN, WHO WHEN HE CAME TO LIVE IN
TO LIVE IN 'THE MOST DIFFICULT NEIGHBORHOOD,' WHO, WHEN ASKED WHERE HE
LIVED, ANSWERED, 'IN A PALACE' WHO WAS LOVED AND RESPECTED BY ONE AND
ALL, JEW AND ARAB ALIKE.
WE WILL FOLLOW THE PATH OF RABBI SHLOMO RA'ANAN'S GRANDFATHER, RAV AVRAHAM
YITZHAK HACOHEN KOOK, AND HIS UNCLE, RAV ZVI YEHUDA HACOHEN KOOK, WHO WERE
THE GUIDING LIGHTS OF RELIGIOUS ZIONISM AND OUR RETURN TO ERETZ YISRAEL.
RABBI SHLOMO RA'ANAN'S BODY MAY HAVE BEEN CUT APART BUT HIS SPIRIT LIVES
ON. HIS SPIRIT, HIS BEING, WILL REMAIN A GUIDING LIGHT TO US FOREVER, HERE
IN HEBRON.
*************
------------------------------------------
Ya'akov's Son
August 17,1998
A week and a half ago two young men from the Shomron community Yitzhar were
killed by Arab terrorists. Harel ben Nunn, 18 years old, specialized in
working the land. He cleared out an entire hillside for use by the Yitzhar
community residents. Twenty-four year old Shlomo Leibman also dedicated his
life to Am Yisrael. He spent almost all his waking hours at Kever Yosef -
the Tomb of Joseph, presently the home of Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai, a Yeshiva
led by Rabbi Yitzhak Ginsburg.
Shlomo Liebman HY"D was not only dedicated to Kever Yosef in Shechem. He was
a native of Hebron. His family lived in Hebron for many years before moving
to Jerusalem. He was born here, in the city of the Patriarchs and
Matriarchs. One of his brothers holds a security-related position in Hebron
and lives in Kiryat Arba. The very moment he was murdered, Shlomo was
speaking to a friend who lives in a community close to Hebron. They were
discussing different possibilities to bring groups of visitors to Kever
Yosef during the summer vacation. In the middle of the conversation the
friend heard gunshots and then an Arab saying, "Look, the cellphone is
open.' The phone was suddenly disconnected.
Almost two years ago Kever Yosef in Shechem was brutally desecrated. During
the "Succot War" when Arafat's soldiers opened fire on Israeli military
personnel, six young soldiers were killed inside the Kever Yosef Compound.
Some of the men bled to death because the compound was surrounded by Arabs
and there wasn't anyone to treat their wounds. The compound itself was
burned: the huge library of holy books was destroyed and the tomb itself was
left in ruins. Unfortunately little has been done to rectify this profanity.
In spite of the fact that according to the "Oslo Piece Accords" this holy
site is under Israeli control, the Arabs have much to say about what goes on
there. In order to reach Kever Yosef, inside the city of Shechem, visitors
must travel through Arafat-land, under total Arab control. Many times the
Arabs refuse to allow access to the site, or limit the number of people
allowed to visit. Access was permissible only during the day. At night
everyone had to leave.
Following the murder at Yitzhar the Israeli army allowed members of the
Yeshiva to remain in the Kever Yosef compound 24 hours a day. Following the
weeklong mourning period, the men requested permission to be allowed to
remain in the compound all day and all night. The army agreed. Last Thursday
evening Arafat's police-soldiers demanded that the men leave the site during
night hours. The army refused the demand. So the Arabs put the compound
under siege. For some time the men inside were denied food and water.
However finally this was allowed in. There are Israeli soldiers inside the
compound, as is usual, but more reinforcements are not allowed. The Arabs
are demanding that the 30 civilians inside (28 men and one married couple)
leave, and not be allowed to stay there at night. The Israeli government,
presently represented in Shechem by the new Commander of the Central
Region, General Moshe (Bugi) Ya'alon is refusing to give in. It seems that
they finally realize the importance of Kever Yosef in Shechem to the Jewish
people.
A short time ago I spoke with Rabbi Yitzhak Arad, the director of Gal-Einai
Yeshiva institutions (Shechem, Yericho, Hebron - http://www.inner.org). He
has been inside the Kever Yosef Compound since the end of last week. He told
me that spirits are high and that they all hope that their present goal will
be accomplished - that being, a commitment from the Israeli government
allowing Jewish presence in the Yeshiva at all hours of the day and night.
He reiterated that fact that the Arabs continue to violate the "Oslo
Accords" setting conditions for Jewish visitors inside the Kever Yosef
compound, limiting the types of equipment brought in (they refused to allow
in loudspeakers), and were even denying those already inside the right to
leave! He added that at the moment the Arabs would be very glad to have them
leave, but then they would probably try to prevent access by anyone else to
the site. He asked that supporters send faxes and letters to the Prime
Minister (Tel: 972-2-6705555 - Fax: 972-2-6512631 and the Minister of
Defense (Tel: 972-3-5692010/6975750 - Fax: 972-3-6916940), asking them to
remain strong and not acquiesce to Arab demands that Jews not be allowed to
dwell at this holy site during night hours. It is also of utmost importance
that this site be renovated, for its desecrated state can only be described
as an abomination.
Yosef, Ya'akov's son, was also a resident of Hebron. He is an eternal
link between Hebron and Shechem, two holy cities in the Land of Israel. Just
as we cannot abandon our Patriarchs and Matriarchs, neither can we abandon
their offspring. We must not abandon Yosef, or those who are dedicating
their lives in his memory. We call upon the Israeli government to rebuild
Kever Yosef in Shechem and to populate it 24 hours a day. Nothing could
better commemorate the memory of Shlomo Leibman HY"D, who gave his life for
Yosef's tomb in Shechem.
Child Inquisition
August 4, 1998
A week ago two 15 year old Kiryat Arba boys were arrested, taken to prison,
and from then on, held incommunicado. Until this afternoon no one was
allowed to speak to them. Except their inquisitors. This afternoon their
attorney was given some time to converse with them in court. However their
parents were forbidden to speak to them.
Last night, immediately following the conclusion of the Tisha b'Av fast two
more boys from Kiryat Arba were incarcerated, under the same conditions as
the first two.
Kol Yisrael - The Voice of Israel radio at 12:00 tonight, headlined the
"continued investigation of the new 'underground' in Kiryat Arba."
According to the report, "after a week of intensive investigation, one of
the boys admitted to setting fire to three Arab cars in Hebron." One of the
four was released and placed under house arrest for 48 hours. One of the
other two was remanded in custody for 24 hours and another for 48 hours.
The judge reprimanded the Israeli intelligence inquisitors for neglecting
to check out an alibi of one of the boys, an alibi which it seems, checked
out.
So, there we have it. The Israel news media has officially proclaimed the
existence of a new Kiryat Arba underground movement. One of the boys,
following a week of inquisition finally fell apart, broke down, and
'confessed.' The good guys have, once again, conquered the forces of evil
stemming from the terrorist compound known as Kiryat Arba. The forces of
evil being 15 and 16 year old youth.
This new inquisition is being carried out by the "Shabak" - Sherutei
Bitachon Klalli - General Security Services. The Shabak, presently headed
by Ami Ayalon, is usually responsible for preventing terrorist attacks
against Jews and trying to catch the would-be murderers before the act.
However, since Israel has, by abandoning so much of Eretz Yisrael to the
terrorists themselves, thereby creating cities of refuge, totally
inaccessable to Israeli intelligence services, it seems that these men are
bored, and have nothing better to do than weed out 15 year old Jewish
terrorists.
But, there is one fact that must be made clear. Ami Ayalon, Chief of the
Shabak, is responsible to one person, and only one person. That person is
the Prime Minister of Israel, Benyamin Netanyahu. Ayalon could not hold
these 15 year olds captive in his cells of Inquisition for a week without
Netanyahu's full knowledge and, explicit approval. The Chief Inquisitor is
not Ami Ayalon. It is Benyamin Netanyahu.
I have no idea whether or not these boys actually perpetrated any of the
crimes they are suspected of having committed. I do not, for one minute,
believe, as I've been told by others, 'where there is smoke there must be
fire.' The Israel Shabak, with all the credit it deserves for past
successes, has also been proven to be corrupt and in some cases, even
criminal. Minister of Defense Yitzhak Mordechai was framed for murder by
the Shabak well over a decade ago. Had the truth not come to light, the
Defense Minister might still be rotting in a military jail, having been
sentenced to life imprisonment. Israel radio's revelations of a major
'confession' can not be taken at face value. Most adults would not be able
to withstand the procedures utilized by the Shabak to induce confessions.
Not to speak of 15 or 16 year old youth.
What I do know is that the unfathomable brutality applied by Jewish
security forces against Jewish children in the State of Israel cannot be
described as criminal, because criminal is too gentle a term. It is nothing
less than an Inquisition. A week of such inquisition is pure,
unadulterated torture. And the primary torturer is none other than a 'right
wing' Prime Minister, elected by the Israeli right to mend the torturous
ways of his two predecessors.
Earlier today Israel radio commentator Moshe Negbi, a hard hard left wing
legal analyst, condemned these tactics, calling them a violation of basic
human rights, unheard of in a democratic state. He went on to say that such
treatment in unthinkable when applied to anyone, but how much more so when
activated against children.
The Kiryat Arba municipality sent a letter to all residents of the
community, asking them to contact MKs who are actively involved in
protecting children's rights. They are: Rubi Rivlin - 050-233818, Maksim
Levi - 08-9234924, Shaul Amor-06-6547165, Mudi Zandberg-04-8373531, Yitzhak
Cohen-07-6738063, Avraham Hirshzon-03-6429193, Zev Baum-07-6815335, Haim
Dayan-06-6545465, Pini Badash-07-6469394, Shmaryahu ben Zur-09-7712470,
Avner Hai Shaiki-03-6426660 and Yael Dayan-03-5272611.
If you call any of these people from outside Israel, dial first 972 and
leave off the first zero. Also, don't pay any attention to the time
difference (7 hours ahead of NY). Wake them up. Ask them why they have been
sleeping all week long, when kids have been held in terrorist cells like
Arabs who kill Jewish children. Ask them why these kids haven't been able
to meet with a lawyer or their parents for a week. Ask them why Arab
murderers roam free while Jewish youth are held captive like terrorists.
But, in my opinion, the person who should be bothered the most isn't on the
list. He is the only one who has the power to OK such a child inquisition.
That is the Prime Minister himself. Fax him and address the letter to Mr
Inquisitor. Fax: 972-2-651-2631 or call Tel: 972-2-670-5555. Tell him what
you think about those who torture Jewish children.
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