Hebron - One Year Later

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever
by David Wilder

Hebron - One Year LaterJune 20, 1997

One year ago none of us could imagine that a year later Hebron would be something of a war zone. Yesterday Arutz 7 replayed an interview with Arik Sharon, recorded a day after the elections, in which he assured that Hebron would not be abandoned. Unfortunately, he was wrong.

The situation in Hebron is definitely worrisome. The security of Hebron’s residents and guests is of paramount importance. This week the IDF managed to keep the agitators from getting too close to the Jewish neighborhoods, as happened during the riots in April. So most of what happened wasn’t seen, but it was heard. Booms originating with the firebombs exploding between 200 to 300 meters from Beit Hadassah were answered with the booms of rubber bullets being shot at the terrorists. However, almost none of them were arrested. Israeli security forces refused to attempt to apprehend the Arab perpetrators attacking from within the H2-Israeli controlled part of Hebron. The palestinian police were nowhere to be seen - of course none of the attackers assaulting from the H1-Arafat controlled zone were seized. Today’s aggression was unparalleled - firebombs were thrown incessantly. I spoke with one of UN TIPH observers at the scene in early afternoon and asked him if he had any idea how many firebombs had been hurled. When he answered ten I stared at him unbelieving. Seeing my consternation he retorted, "that is, of course, in the last 20 minutes. Since this morning - dozens and dozens."

A few days ago a reporter speaking with me insinuated that Israel was the cause of the current ‘unrest.’ I asked him how the police would react in any US city if a group of fanatics started tossing firebombs at their uniformed colleagues. He had no answer. I’ve been questioned as to why this has started again. It is very difficult to respond with 100% knowledge that the answer it accurate. Most of what we surmise is just that, conjecture. It is obvious that Arafat is aware of Netanyahu’s current political sensitivity. He knows that now is the time to exert pressure. And that is exactly what he is doing, the best, and only way he knows - by using violence. It is not coincidental that Hebron’s problems began together with attacks by Arabs in Gazza on the Jewish community of Morag. It is not surprising that Israeli intelligence expects major disturbances in Shechem and other cities in Yesha. What is (or perhaps isn’t) surprising, it the lack of any real Israeli response. I have discussed this issue before and see no reason to repeat myself. Suffice it to say that Netanyahu’s policies have not yet changed - he hasn’t yet learned.

How should we relate to this "leader" - a man whose election platform has been turned inside-out? After a year, perhaps we should do a little summing up. Netanyahu is surely not the Messiah we prayed for - but we knew that a year ago. He is weak, indecisive and unassertive. We knew that too. What we didn’t expect was a total capitulation - an overall collapse of the ideologies he so succinctly phrased in his book, published before the election.

In the past I have called for the Prime Minister’s ousting - believing that we would be better off without him. Earlier this week an article appeared over internet, written by a highly respected analyst, Emanuel A. Winston, called FORCED EVACUATION OF JEWISH HEBRON . The article began: "It seems amply clear that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has adopted the Peres-Beilin evacuation plan for Hebron and its Jewish citizens." With all due respect, Winston is wrong. With all his troubles and faults, Netanyahu has no intentions to evacuate Hebron’s Jewish residents. There are details that I cannot publish over public internet, but I know that there are Israeli contingency plans in the event of an all-out attack on the Jewish neighborhoods by Arafat’s troops. Those plans DO NOT include evacuation on the lines suggested by Winston, according to the Peres-Beilin plans. Not only would evacuation of Hebron immediately bring down the government - it would destroy the Likud for the foreseeable future. Netanyahu knows this. Netanyahu is far from implementing the policies he promised previous to his election, but we have no doubt that he is far from being another Shimon Peres. Peres would have removed us from Hebron. Bibi won’t.

In spite of what I have written in the past, today we must do everything we can to prevent the fall of the government. Were elections to be held today, according to most polls, Ehud Barak would easily be elected. His ministers would include Haim Ramon and Yossi Beilin. Who knows - they might even try to make Peres the next president of the country, after Weitzman. Given today’s international political climate, this must not happen. Netanyahu has shown a little, (much much too little) strength concerning Har Homa. This is not enough to forgive his errors - but it is something. Rather than continue to weaken him by accusing him of planning to evacuate Hebron, we must find ways to strengthen him.

I am sure that Netanyahu will make policy decisions causing me to attack him again, in the future. But for the time being, we cannot allow the left to come back into power - we have to watch very carefully what we say, so as not to bring an even worse predicament upon ourselves.

A Time to End "Other Considerations"

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever
by David Wilder
A Time to End "Other Considerations"
March 7, 1997

In an interview following today's cabinet decision, Prime Minister Benyamin
Netanyahu related to threats by members of the coalition to leave the
government. "It is in their hands if they want the government to be run within a
different framework."

Netanyahu, together with Yitzhak Mordechai and David Levi, forced the cabinet to
accept the first of three planned `further redeployments.' The initial
abandonment includes relinquishing an additional 9% of Eretz Yisrael to Arafat,
including 2% in area C, presently under total Israeli control. However, the
real man behind the cabinet decision is not Bibi Netanyahu. It is Bill Clinton.

According to Arutz 7 news reports this morning, Yitzhak Mordechai and other
ministers took calls from the State Department several times during the cabinet
debate. Martin Indyk, American ambassador to Israel received constant updates.
Throughout the day, preceding the cabinet meeting, phone calls between
Washington and Jerusalem abounded. The new American Secretary of State, Madeline
Albright, reportedly told the Prime Minister that Israel must concede 10% of
Yesha to Arafat. When Netanyahu presented the American administration with an
alternative plan suggested by the National Religious Party, whereby only .5% of
area C territory would be transferred to Arafat, the State Department nixed the
idea. Then, of course, Netanyahu rejected it too.

Netanyahu, defending the Hebron accords in the Knesset, basked in the glory of
the `additional letter' signed by Warren Christopher, declaring that Israel
alone would determine the extent of the `further redeployments,' without any
intervention by Arafat and the palestinian authority. It did not, however,
exclude American interference.

Seven ministers voted against the abandonment - Arik Sharon and Limor Livnat of
the Likud, Zevulun Hammer and Rav Yitzhak Levi of the NRP, Natan Sharansky and
Yuli Edelstein of Yisrael b'Aliya, and Rafael Eitan of Zomet. Deputy Minister
of Education Moshe Peled (Zomet) has announced his intention to resign. Hanan
Porat, Shaul Yahalom and Zvi Hendel, all of the NRP, are considering pulling out
of the coalition, along with Gesher MK Michael Kleiner, who heads up the Eretz
Yisrael Force in the Knesset. He is calling on the other 17 MKs who belong to
the Eretz Yisrael Force to join him and the other 4 MKs in voting against the
government in next week's no-confidence vote.

It appears that the time has come to make a decision. The right-wing of the
Israeli political spectrum broke its back to get Netanyahu elected. Had the
elections taken place as scheduled, and had Rabin not be assassinated, it is
impossible to know what would have happened. After the murder, it seemed that
Peres' reelection was assured. Israeli public opinion and the left-wing
backlash, supported by the media, insured the continued rule of the anti-Eretz
Yisrael forces in Israel.

But the overwhelming work of tens of thousands of people in Israel and around
the world led to `the miracle,' - the defeat of the left and the rise of the
right. Ecstasy was an understatement. However, shortly afterwards, Bibi's
intentions began to slip out. Arik Sharon, the one person most responsible for
the election of Netanyahu was pushed to the side, outside of the cabinet. The
Prime Minister's lack of reaction to the September affair left red lights
blinking in the minds of many. And of course, Hebron. Hebron - abandonment of
all values Netanyahu had ever espoused - the beginning of the end.

There were those who tried to defend the policies as `Netanyahu having no
choice' - he was only implementing the agreements signed by the previous
administration - and the Hebron accords were supposedly `improved.' After all,
Netanyahu declared, towards the end of the election campaign, that he would
carry out Israel's obligations as signed by Rabin and Peres. Forget the fact
that Arafat continues to violate the treaty - that there is no reciprocity -
that Israel is giving and they are taking. Netanyahu promised to change policy
when the decisions became entirely his, when he was no longer chained by the
constraints of earlier agreements.

So, here we are, arriving at the `first further redeployment' - Netanyahu's
opportunity to show the world and the people of Israel who he really is and what
he really thinks. As if we didn't know. The resulting decision, made in the
early hours of this morning, is the final straw. Concession of land under
Israeli control puts Netanyahu in the same boat with his infamous predecessors -
he is willingly bestowing Eretz Yisrael to our arch-enemy, a terrorist who
continues to spout hate. Only a few days ago Arafat proclaimed that `without
east Jerusalem and with (Jewish) settlements in Yesha, there will not be peace.'


Why is he doing it - because of American pressure? The answer may be
affirmative. Would he continue on the same path if the pressure didn't exist? It
is very difficult to know the answer. One thing is for sure: he is doing it - he
is in the process of parting with 70% of Judea and Samaria, which will
inevitably lead to the creation of a palestinian state. We should not live
under ANY illusions: the continued Jewish presence in Hebron IS IN DANGER.
Ma'arat HaMachpela is due to be discussed in one month. Negotiations are sure to
lead to concessions - which may be the first of many more concessions in Hebron
and at the Tomb of the Patriarchs.

JERUSALEM IS IN DANGER! If Netanyahu so easily bends to American coercion, the
end is not in sight. When they `propose' a Vatican-styled solution to the
dilemma, my guess is that Netanyahu will fold. And he will attempt to convince
Am Yisrael that this is for our own good.

So, what do we do? Up until now there has been a sense of `other
considerations.' Toppling the government is fraught with danger - what else is
there - who else is there? Maybe the problems can be solved behind the scenes -
quietly, without rocking the boat.

The time has come to say NO, without any other considerations. Those who voted
against the `further redeployment' are to be commended. But, that is not enough.
The responsibility for a government decision is incumbent upon ALL THOSE IN THE
CABINET, not only those who vote affirmatively. Rafael Eitan, speaking before
the vote said, `we must abide by the majority.' In other words, even if he
doesn't agree, he is willing to partake of the responsibility for the decision.


In a democracy, the minority has no choice but to accept the decisions of the
majority. Dissent can be, and should be expressed to the utmost. In this case,
ANYONE STAYING IN THE CABINET GIVES LEGITIMACY TO THE DECISION TO ABANDON ERETZ
YISRAEL, and lends a hand to the continued proposals in Netanyahu's briefcase.
The Prime Minister has yet to reveal, to his own ministers, his overall game
plan, his goals to be reached by the third and final `further redeployment.'
These `further redeployments,' it should be remembered, are part of the INTERIM
AGREEMENT. What after that - what is his aim for the final status of Eretz
Yisrael?

So, if Netanyahu believes that he is scaring anyone by threatening a `national
unity government' as he suggested during the interview quoted in the first
paragraph of this article, he should think otherwise. Let him go ahead and
invite Peres and Barak into the government - that is tantamount to political
suicide - and he knows it.

There comes a time when a moral, ethical obligation overrides all other
considerations. REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES - THE TIME HAS COME TO TELL
NETANYAHU - NO MORE! WE WILL NOT BEAR RESPONSIBLITY FOR YOUR MADNESS.
WE WILL NOT BE A PART OF CONTINUED ABANDONMENT OF ISRAEL. IF YOU WANT TO DO IT
- DO IT ON YOUR OWN - WITHOUT US!

There is an advertisement on Arutz 7 saying:
If I wanted to give Eretz Yisrael to Arafat - I would have voted for Peres.
If I wanted to give Hebron to Arafat - I would have voted for Peres.
If I wanted to divide Jerusalem - I would have voted for Peres.
Etc. Etc. Etc.

Netanyahu's mandate was, and still is, to keep Eretz Yisrael. If he has
decided, for whatever reasons, to do otherwise, let him do it by himself,
without us. We cannot allow ourselves to be sucked into thinking that we have no
responsibility - that there is nothing we can do. If we continue to politically
affiliate ourselves with him then we are guilty by association. There comes a
time to end all other considerations - and that time is now.

Hebron - R.I.P.?

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever by David Wilder Hebron - R.I.P.? January 17, 1997

    Last  night Prime Minister Netanyahu, speaking  at  a
press  conference,  told  viewers  that  "Israel  is  not
withdrawing   from  Hebron,  rather  is  resituating   in
Hebron."  Bibi has a way with words.
      For  that matter, so does MK Michael Eitan, a long-
time Hebron supporter.  Explaining his acceptance of  the
accords, he compares the abandonment to a doctor, who has
no  choice but to amputate the patient's leg in order  to
save  his  life.   This  sounds vaguely  similar  to  the
`sacrifices  for peace' we were so used to  hearing  from
the previous administration.
      A  little  over a year ago I tried  to  express  my
emotions  when Beit Lechem was abandoned to  Arafat.   At
that  time  I  wrote that Rachel cried.  This  week,  for
almost  two days it didn't stopped raining, for the first
time this winter. Now when Hebron, city of the Patriarchs
and Matriarchs is being abandoned,   G-d is crying.
       Many  reporters  have  asked  me  if  the  present
agreement is better than the original Peres-Arafat Hebron
Accords.  The answer is very simple.  The two versions of
the  Plan  to Abandon Hebron are similar to two  doctors.
The  first doctor approaches the family of a sick patient
and  informs them: "I'm sorry, but the patient is  dead."
The other doctor approaches the family with a post-mortem
report,  saying, "These are the reasons why  the  patient
died.'   However  you look at it, with  the  details,  or
without the details, the patient is dead.
      How  is  Hebron  going  to deal  with  the  present
situation?   Many  people have asked  me  why  we  didn't
conduct a major demonstration today, or do something else
to convey our feelings. For well over a year we worked to
prevent  the abandonment of Hebron.  The fact that  today
80%  of  Hebron  was evacuated is not  an  indication  of
failure.   We  did  just about everything  we  could  and
managed to postpone the final, awful moment for almost  a
year.  Seven ministers opposed Netanyahu's plan.  We lost
because  the  other two ministers who should  have  voted
against the accords chickened out.  The vote was 11 to 7.
It may very well come to pass that all those who voted to
implement  the accords will be remembered in  history  as
are the 10 spies who, when reporting back to Moses in the
desert, rejected the possibility of conquering and living
in  Eretz  Yisrael. Those who voted against the agreement
will  be  recalled as are Yehoshua and Kalev,  especially
former minister Benny Begin, who resigned as a result  of
the   government's  decision.  Unfortunately  our   Prime
Minister does not have the same courage as does Begin.
      One thing should be clear: Over the past four years
the  Jewish  Community  of Hebron  had  to  prevail  over
tremendous difficulties.  With G-d's help, we  were  able
to  overcome almost all the problems we faced during  the
reign of Rabin-Peres.  Just as we overcame four years  of
oppression, so will we overcome the present predicament.
      There are those who have written Hebron off -  they
expect  Hebron's  Jewish community to  leave.  They  have
declared:  Hebron - Rest In Peace.  For some reason  they
really  believe  that  we are in the  midst  of  a  peace
process.   They  also believe that a Jewish  presence  in
Hebron  is  provocative and unnecessary.  But,  they  are
wrong.  Only true peace brings true rest. Hebron will not
rest,  surely not as part of this false peace.   The  lie
called  Oslo will not allow us peace and quiet.  Much  to
the  contrary. The more we concede, the more  trouble  we
will  have. Hebron has been transformed into a `piece'  -
the  exact opposite of its true essence, which  is  total
unity.
      What will happen to Hebron? One day, perhaps in the
near future, or even in the distant future, all of Hebron
will  return  to  Jewish  hands, as  will  Shechem,  Beit
Lechem, and all of Judea, Samaria and Gazza.  How  can  I
be so sure?  It took from 1929 to 1967 for Jews to return
to  Hebron.   It  took  2,000 years to  return  to  Eretz
Yisrael, following the destruction of the Second  Temple.
How,  after  so many years, were we able to return?   The
answer  is  because  the land of Israel  is  an  integral
component  of  the Jewish People and for 2,000  years  we
never forgot that.  From 1929 to 1967 we never forgot our
attachment to the city of the Patriarchs.  We yearned, we
prayed,  we proclaimed `next year in Jerusalem,' even  at
the  cost  of death, we sat on the ground one  day  every
year,  in commemoration of the burning of the Temple  and
the  exile  of  Jews  from Israel.  We  knew  that  Eretz
Yisrael belongs to Am Yisrael.
      The  immediate future will be very difficult  -  of
that I have no doubts or illusions. If  the Jewish People
were  able  to  overcome the results of a Holocaust  that
left  one  third of our people murdered, and in spite  of
that were able  to create a viable state only three years
after  the  furnaces were extinguished, we  can  overcome
anything.   It  will not be easy, but we will  persevere.
Only  when there is a true and lasting peace, not a peace
of  capitulation will we be able to add, after  the  word
Hebron - Rest in Peace.

Impending Disaster?

---

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever

by David Wilder
Impending Disaster?
October 30, 1996

     Yesterday, tens of thousands of Israelis poured into
a   storm-struck   Jerusalem  to  protest   the   planned
abandonment of Hebron. In New York, a group of  concerned
Jews  chanted  in front of the Israeli consulate,  "Don't
abandon  Hebron."  This morning a personal representative
of President Clinton visited Hebron to learn, first-hand,
about Hebron.
     And the negotiations continue.

      Two  major  issues must be confronted.  The  Jewish
Community of Hebron has learned that all Jewish property,
including  the  buildings presently lived  in  by  Jewish
residents,  and all the property owned by Jews  prior  to
the   1929  massacre,  is  to  be  transferred  to  total
palestinian control.  All Jewish property in  Hebron  was
held  by  a  Jordanian  `guardian' following  the  forced
removal of the surviving Jews in 1929.  In 1967, with the
return  of  Israel to Hebron, an Israeli  `guardian'  had
official authority over all Jewish land and houses.  This
authority  is  now  to be transferred  to  a  palestinian
`guardian.'
      Should  this  actually  happen,  all  construction,
anywhere in Hebron, on Jewish property, will be dependent
on  permission from the palestinian `guardian.'  HE  WILL
ALSO  HAVE THE LEGAL POWER TO REMOVE JEWS FROM THE HOUSES
WE  PRESENTLY  LIVE  IN, CLAIMING  THAT  IT  IS  ACTUALLY
PALESTINIAN PROPERTY, UNDER HIS AUTHORITY.

       The   second   issue  to  be  addressed   concerns
administrative detention and curfews.  According to media
accounts in all Israeli newspapers today, the "Shabak"  -
otherwise  known  as Israeli intelligence,  is  demanding
that  dozens of `right-wing extremists,' especially  from
Hebron  and  the  Hebron area, be placed under  immediate
administrative detention. There are also  rumors  that  a
curfew  will  be  placed upon Jews in Hebron-Kiryat  Arba
before  commencement of abandonment.  There  are  reports
that  `redeployment' will be implemented by  the  end  of
next week, should the agreement be signed.

      The  time has come for the Netanyahu government  to
reveal,  to one and all, its true self.  We have assumed,
based  on previous statements, declarations, and actions,
that  Bibi  Netanyahu's heart is actually in  the  `right
place,' in spite his continued implementation of the Oslo
curse.   Netanyahu  is, at least in  theory,  not  Shimon
Peres.   There  really  is no need to  enumerate  why  we
worked  so  hard to put him in office.  The  reasons  are
known to all.
      However, it is possible that we were mistaken,  and
should that be the case, our error is very grave, indeed.
The  above-described  intentions to transfer  all  Jewish
property  to  Arafat is more drastic  than  the  original
`Peres-Arafat' agreement.  How does a government, elected
on  a  platform guaranteeing continued Jewish development
in   Hebron,  literally  strangle  the  existing   Jewish
community!?   How  can a Prime Minister who  has  written
books  on  combating terrorism, reward Arafat  with  more
than  even  Peres was willing to do?  How can an  Israeli
administration create a situation making Hebron, de jure,
Judenrein?  Jews have no property rights, no land rights,
in  Hebron,  the cradle of  Jewish civilization?   If  we
have  no land rights in Hebron,  if we can't walk  freely
and   live   normally  in  the  city  of  Abraham,   what
justification do we have in Tel-Aviv or Haifa.  If Hebron
is  defined as `conquered territory,' what is the  status
of  Jerusalem.   Ma'arat HaMachpela is 3,700  years  old.
The Kotel is 2,000 years old.

      Administrative detention is a means to  incarcerate
suspected  terrorists.   It is a  procedure  utilized  to
combat  terrorist attacks and, used properly, is  a  very
effective  tool.   However, the  previous  administration
began using it to smother political activists whose ideas
and   philosophies  differed  from  their  own.    In   a
democratic  state,  a person suspected  of  committing  a
crime  is indicted and tried in a court of law.  If found
guilty,  he  is punished.  If acquitted, he is  released.
There  is  no justification to restrict movement  of  any
citizen in a free, democratic state, and all the more so,
a person may not be imprisoned without just cause and due
process of law.
      The  previous  administration  used  administrative
detention   and   house   arrest  to   stifle   political
expression.   Baruch Marzel, prevented from  leaving  his
home  for  over  two  and  a half  years,  has  now  been
presented with an additional renewed administrative house
arrest  order.  As reported above, tens of Jews may  soon
be  arrested  by  order of the Netanyahu  government,  in
complete contradiction to due process of law.
      Should  the  Netanyahu government actually  execute
these  orders,  and, at the same time,  while  abandoning
Hebron,  transfer all property rights to  Arafat,  Israel
will  truly  be  facing catastrophe, no  less  than  that
threatened  by the preceding Peres administration.   This
impending  disaster is not so much going to be caused  by
our    enemies.     Rather   our   own   government,    a
`nationalistic'  regime, may bring upon  its  own  people
devastation beyond belief.

      The only consolation I have to offer is that if we,
the Jewish Community of Hebron have anything to say or do
about it, it will not happen.

My friend Moshe and Abed from Hebron

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever
by David Wilder
My friend Moshe and Abed from Hebron
August 30, 1996

On Wednesday evening I was, with hundreds of others, celebrating the marriage 
of Yaffa Bleicher, daughter of Yeshivat Shavei Hebron's Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Moshe  Bleicher.  The chuppa took place in front of Ma'arat HaMachpela.  The courtyard 
was filled with, in my estimation, well over one thousand people.  The Chatan, 
Yonatan, and the Kallah, Yaffa, seem to be an ideal young couple, and they 
looked beautiful, as the wedding blessings were recited in the field of 
Machpela, in Hebron.

Later, following the ceremony, we all walked to the Yeshiva.  Yeshivat Shavei 
Hebron is located in Beit Romano, a building over a hundred years old.  
The structure, in the past, housed the "Sde Hemed" a renowned Talmudic scholar, 
and early this century was home to Yeshivat Torat Emet of Habad.  In 1917 the 
British claimed the building and used it as a police station.  Those murdered 
and injured in the 1929 massacre were taken here on that fateful Saturday. The 
present Yeshiva has been located in the building since the early 1980's.

While sitting at the festive outdoors meal, a nearby friend passed on the 
information: "A 160 bus, from Jerusalem to Kiryat Arba - Hebron was just shot 
at. One person was injured."  It took a while to receive confirmation and 
clarification.  On the new Bethlehem bypass road, supposedly 'secure', 
terrorists opened up with automatic weapons and hit the bus. It isn't clear 
exactly how many bullets hit the bus - between 15 to 30.  Fortunately, we now 
travel in buses that have been mostly bulletproofed.  This is the reason no 
one was seriously injured.  I say 'mostly' because there are several parts of 
the bus which are not bullet proof.  I won't elaborate for obvious reasons, 
except to say that at least one bullet passed though a 'non-bullet proofed' 
window, and miraculously, didn't hit anyone.  The bus was full and there were 
people standing.  According to people on the bus, if it had not been bullet 
proofed, much blood would have been spilled.

One of the people on the bus was a good friend of mine, Moshe Shachar. Moshe, 
his wife Efrat, and their children have lived in Kiryat Arba for a number of 
years.  Moshe, aged 54, a math whiz and a computer genious, used to work for 
Bezek and is presently employed by E.C.I., a private electronics firm in Petach 
Tikvah.  He travels back and forth from Petach Tikva several times a week. I 
visited with Moshe a little while ago.  The following is what he related to me:
" I attended an all-day meeting - nine hours.  So when I was on the bus I 
didn't have energy to do anything.  I was dozing and leaning against the 
window.  Suddenly I heard automatic gunfire.  It lasted for, maybe, three 
seconds.  In the middle of it I realized it was gunfire and not rocks.  I was 
leaning against the window.  Exactly were my  arm was, a bullet hit.  (Showing 
me the picture in the newspaper), Here is where one bullet hit.  If the windows 
weren't bulletproofed I would have been hit. And here above that bullet, is 
where another one hit the glass. (That bullet hole was opposite his head.) I 
was wounded in my leg.  A bullet hit the side of the bus and must have 
exploded.  Either fragments of the bullet or pieces of the bus hit my leg. I 
wasn't badly hurt.  They took me to the hospital from Gush Etzion, washed the 
leg and gave me antibiotics.  The pieces of metal will remain in my leg.  I 
have to take it easy for a couple of weeks, but all-in-all, I'm O.K.  (I 
remarked that now, every time he enters Ma'arat HaMachpela, the metal-detector 
will be activated. We laugh together.) What now?  Very simple.  As soon as the 
doctor says it's ok, I'll continue going to work, the same way I always have.  
What should we do now? Build a new settlement where the attack took place. We 
have to strengthen our hold on Eretz Yisrael.  The terrorists cannot be allowed 
to control our lives."
That is my friend Moshe.

Earlier that day, I spent an hour with a photographer in Hebron.  While we were 
wondering around, an Arab named Abed stopped me on the street, across from Beit Romano. He 
told me, in Hebrew, the following.  (I translated to English for the 
photographer.)
'I prefer the Israeli army in Hebron to Arafat.  Arafat's people arrest Arabs, 
jail them, torture them, and then kill them.  The Israeli soldiers arrest 
Arabs and question them, but don't torture or kill them.  We've seen this in 
other cities where Arafat rules.  Do a lot of Hebron Arabs think this?  Yes. And 
you should know, I agree that Jews should live in Hebron.  My grandmother used 
to tell me stories that Jews lived on this land, five hundred - seven hundred 
years ago.  This is Jewish land.  The Arabs stole it from them after the 
massacre.' 
Quote- Unquote - Abed from Hebron 

Interim - Where Do We Go From Here

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever
by David Wilder
Interim - Where Do We Go From Here
June 7, 1996

We have had all of a week to start getting used to the MaHapach - the fall of
Labor and the rise of Bibi, and the rumor mills are working full time. "Arik is
out" ... "Redeployment in Hebron, in spite of everything." There are the big
two Ariel Sharon and Hebron. And I don't believe either one.

Bibi isn't stupid. You don't get elected Prime Minister by doing dumb
things. Bibi knows exactly why he was elected - he knows what the Israeli
people want. And he knows that in another four years he will face a reelection
campaign - and four years has a way of creeping up on you. That was Labor's
mistake - (at least, one of many). They thought that the four years would never
end. But, thank G-d, they did.

So, after having worked so hard to get Bibi elected, now we have to give him
a little credit and a little time. Decisions about an issue as important and as
sensitive as Hebron aren't decided overnight. They also aren't decided without
a Defense Minister, a Foreign Minister, and a government.

We shouldn't fool ourselves and expect that everything Bibi does will be 100%
agreeable with us. I'll be a little surprised if he calls us ands asks us what
we think he should do. After all, we elected him to do that work - it's his
headache. I have no doubt that he will not redeploy Israeli forces in Hebron -
he will not give the city to "palestinian soldiers." He will initiate a policy
of expansion and development throughout Israel, including Hebron.

He also will not forget Arik Sharon and his centrality in the election
victory. A few words about Arik - Hebron has many friends, but none like Arik
Sharon. He doesn't only talk - he does. He is a real bulldozer. He is
personally responsible for literally hundreds of thousands of dollars that have
reached Hebron's institutions. He is a real doer. And he deserves all the
credit for it. He backed out of the Likud race for Prime Minister, in spite of
his personal goals, because he looks first at the good of Israel, and not at his
own desires. He brought together David Levi and Bibi - (almost a big a miracle
as the election results), and unified them with Raful. Had that not been done,
there would have been four candidates for Prime Minister: Peres, Bibi, Raful and
David Levi. Had that happened, at best, today we would be facing a runoff
election.

Arik convinced the religious parties and the "Haradim" to back the Likud and
Bibi, and to vote. That too, was no small feat.
And have not doubt - if I know it, so does Bibi. He won't leave Arik Sharon
out in the cold. So far he hasn't made any public statements. We have to give
him a little time. Let's wait for the results before jumping to conclusions.


Where do we go from here? The "we" in the question should be capitalized -
"WE". - All of us - not just in Hebron, but all over the country. There is
little doubt that there are tremendous political differences between two halves
of Israel's citizens. That has been clear since the 1980's, when the first
national unity governments were formed. But the last four years have witnessed
a polarization that could tear the country apart. The fact that the 'enemy' was
turned into the friend, and the 'brother' into the enemy is a symptom of a
greater illness. The animosity generated between 'left' and 'right' could tear
the country apart. So, how do we solve the problem?

The answer doesn't depend on compromising values. It is, rather, a question
of defining values, and setting priorities. The most important value known in
Judaism is UNITY. (For those of you who read Hebrew, see Em HaBanim Smacha by
Rav Yisachar Shlomo Teichtel HY"D - especially the last chapter, called "Unity
and Shalom - The Rectification of Israel.) There is no greater strength in
Israel than Unity. So how - how do we bridge the gaps that seemingly divide two
segments of the population?

In short, there are two stages: short-term and long-term. First, we must all
reach agreement that we cannot ignore each other and that we cannot and must not
relate to each other as separate peoples. "Settlers" are not subhuman
extremists, just as the far-left "Meretz" supporters are not monsters. There
must be a mutual acceptance that allows us to disagree, without totally
alienating each other. We must accept the legitimacy of all others to exist.
The past four years have seen an attempt to dehumanize and delegitimize the
Israeli 'right.' Not all 'right-wing' activites were 'purely' motivated. We
must accept the fact that there are different philosophies of life, that we must
all live with.

How then, can we continue implementing our policies? First of all, we don't
have to trample the 'left.' We don't have to make decisions and 'shove them
down their throats.' Not everything has to be done tomorrow. There will be
changes in policy, as dictated by the results of the elections. But Bibi
doesn't have to, and shouldn't implement these changes the way Rabin and Peres
did.

A in-depth discussion of values and priorities is perhaps the topic of a
separate article. But the overlying goal of whatever is done must be to keep
the peace within the family - as Bibi said - first there must be peace between
the Jews. If there isn't peace among ourselves, we'll never reach and maintain
a true peace with our neighbors.

If we are aware of this goal, and make efforts to achieve it, we will, with the
help of G-d, succeed.

NYC Rally Statement

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever
by David Wilder                                                                    
NYC Rally Statement                                
May 1, 1996

Shalom from Hebron.
First, I must thank you for coming this evening to show your 
solidarity with the Jewish Community of Hebron.  Hebron does not 
belong to those of us who live in Hebron-Kiryat Arba.  Hebron belongs 
to all the Jewish People, thoughout the ages.  In spite of the fact 
that your are in NY and we are here in Israel, Hebron is as much a 
part of you as me.  
       This morning at 10:00, as we were getting ready to leave for 
Jerusalem, Kiryat Arba's ambulance sirens began shrieking.  Within a 
few minutes the reason was clear.  Seventy two year old Nisim Gudaei 
was stabbed in the back  by an Arab terrorist in Hebron.  The 
butcher knife was still sticking out of his back when he was taken to 
Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem.
     Nisim Gudaei, still fighting for his life as I write, is a 
brilliant man, a first class Torah scholar, having studied at the 
Ponevitch Yeshiva.  He was the secretary of the Tel-Aviv Rabbinic 
Court, learned and taught in Kiryat Arba's Hesder Yeshiva, speaks 
many languages, including fluent Arabic, and it a frequent visitor to 
the Arab shuk in Hebron.  All the Arabs in the Kasba know Nisim - he 
buys from them for years, speaks their language, and is simply, a 
very nice person.  He cannot be called an extremist, or a problematic 
trouble-maker, even among the Arabs.
   So why should an Arab choose to stab him in the back?  Because he 
is a Jew, living in Eretz Yisrael, residing in Kiryat Arba, walking 
the streets of Hebron.  It is, in the words of a friend of mine, just 
like reliving 1929.
      We left Kiryat Arba-Hebron to protest the planned 
abandonment of Hebron.  We then traveled to the Knesset, where a special debate took 
place.  Reporters asked my, "Why bother - what do you accomplish by
standing here in the hot weather, with all your families - men, women
and children?"  My response is quite simple:  We cannot just stand by
and watch a 3,700 year old Jewish city be abandoned.  It is the
democratic right to protest.  We are fulfilling that right.  But it is
not only a right, it is an obligation.  If someone tried to break into
your home, and then claim that it belongs not to you, but to him,
wouldn't you have an obligation, not only to yourself, but to your
family, to prove him wrong?  That is our obligation.  Our home is
being taken from us, and our family is the entire Jewish People.  We
must not let it happen.
Later in the afternoon we went to  the Kotel. where we prayed 
before the Master of the  Universe, at the holiest site to the Jewish 
People.  Unfortunately, Temple Mount and the Western Wall are also on 
the terrorist's list.  If we will succeed in preventing the fall of 
Hebron, the chances are good that Jerusalem will remain united.  If, 
chalila, Hebron should fall, we all know what is next.
   
   Later on we continued to a demonstration in the center of 
Jerusalem.  We spent an entire day protesting, before the people of  
Israel, before the people of the world, before our  L-rd in Heaven: 
Hebron, the city of Abraham, the lifeblood of the Jewish People must 
not be turned over to Arafat. 

    In 1929 the Arabs massacred us, leaving 67 dead.  The British 
expelled the remaining survivors.  We waited almost 50 years to 
return.  Is is possible that a Jewish government will continue where 
the British left off?  No - it cannot be, and we will do all in our 
power to prevent it.
    Today, this morning, the attempted murder of Nisim Gudaei brought 
back shadows of 1929 to haunt us - the Arabs haven't changed.  They 
will still take any opportunity to try to kill us.  It makes no 
difference if we are 'their friends' or not.    
      In a month the Israeli People will go to the polls to make perhaps 
the most important decision  since the founding of the State.  We 
will have to decide if we want an Israel with Judaism or without 
Judaism, with Hebron or without Hebron, with Jerusalem, or without 
Jerusalem.  If any of you have Israeli citizenship, do your utmost to 
be in Israel on election day.  Every vote counts.  Everyone must do 
what they can - If not now - when?
     It would be very easy, after today's events, after the terrorist 
attack, after hearing Yossi Sarid promise to 'not only withdraw from 
Hebron, but also remove all its Jewish residents', to feel total 
despair.  However, I conclude, not on a note of despair, but rather on a note of hope, 
of optimism.  The road before us will not be easy, but we have faith 
that we weren't brought back to Israel, after a 2,000 year exile, 
only to be exiled again.   Thousands of people participated in 
today's protests, and there are hundreds of thousands  more, all over 
Israel, who will not agree to see Hebron fall, at the hands of a 
Jewish government.  
    The army offered us, in Hebron, different forms of protection, 
most of which resembled ghettoization.  We refused.  We will not, 
under any circumstances, return to a ghetto.  We have come back to 
Israel, we have come back to Hebron, we have come home, to live as a 
free people should live, in their home.  Our home is not a ghetto.  
Our home is the oldest Jewish city in the world, the roots of the 
Jewish People, the beginnings of the Kingdom of Israel - the home of 
David Melech Yisrael.  The eternity of Hebron, as is the eternity of 
Israel, is not a man-made gift - it is Divine.  And in spite of the 
seeming darkness, the seeming pit we are falling into, we will rise 
up, as we have in the past.  Eternity is a long time, eternity does 
not lie and with the help of G-d, - we will not fail in our mission.  
Your solidarity with Hebron, Hebron, coming from the word l'chaber, to join 
together, unites us - we are one - going forward for one cause - and 
we will succeed. 
Thank you again.

I look forward to seeing all of you as our guests in the Jewish 
Community of Hebron in the very near future.

With blessings from the city of the Patriarchs,
David Wilder