On June 30, the army shut down Gush Katif. It became officially a "closed military zone". No cars were allowed in or out of Gush Katif. No cars were allowed to travel between settlements in Gush Katif.
The IDF, using its mighty military force, first evacuated a group of teenagers occupying a building in the Muassi village across the road from N'vei Dekalim.
(The Muassi are a Bedouin tribe living in relatively peaceful coexistence with Gush Katif. They are terrified of their fate after the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif. They must now show Hamas that they are not 'collaborators'.)
The IDF continued, with its massive strength, and using the events in the Muassi village as an excuse, to evacuate the former Palm Beach Hotel, now called Maoz Yam, Stronghold of the Sea, a kilometer from the Muassi village. The troops in combat gear forcefully removed Jewish mothers, children, infants and a group of visiting, crying teenagers. Thousands of troops were used in this operation. Hundreds of troops cordoned off the roads leading to Gush Katif and hundreds more barricaded each settlement.
In twenty minutes, this 'daring' operation was over. Troops dragged and carried moms, children and babies to waiting buses. I watched the buses pull out of the hotel area. The children waved to me. The buses then ferried the hapless residents of the hotel to a dusty road some forty kilometers away, where they were deposited without food, drink or transportation to make their way home.
End of operation. The army and government declared a major victory in the war against the right-wing, radical, extremist settlers.
The local and world media were out in force to cover this historic event - a dress rehearsal for the eventual evacuation of every family in Gush Katif.
But the most fascinating story that came out of this media event was the Israeli TV crew capturing the scene of a Muassi teenager, bloodied, lying semi-conscious, while kippah-wearing teenagers threw stones at his inert body. The Israeli and world media went into a frenzy and condemned the religious Right for this 'lynching'. Every religious settler and rabbi was condemned.
But there was no truth to the story. It was deliberately posed and dramatized by the Israeli media.
These are the scenes not shown on TV, but witnessed and documented:
1. Muassi Arab boys throwing stones at the Jewish teenagers.
2. The Muassi 'lynching' victim is hit by an IDF soldier.
3. The boy is posed and repositioned by Israeli cameramen to create a scene of 'victimization'.
4. Jewish teenagers throw stones over a wall, presumably at the victim.
5. The Gush Katif security chief takes the boy, bloodied, but capable of walking, for treatment.
6. Israeli television reporters describe the 'victim' as unconscious and in critical condition.
7. The 'victim' is treated at the scene and released.
8. The Jewish teenagers filmed throwing stones conveniently disappear and cannot be found despite a massive police presence.
9. After an evening of hysterical media reports about the 'lynching', the army acts to remove young families from the hotel.
10. After several hours, roadblocks are taken down in Gush Katif.
The government's hoped-for results from this operation: to frighten the residents of Gush Katif into submission.
The message is clear: This is what awaits you. You will not succeed in evading your fate. See how efficient the army is? The roads will be blocked. Not one of your friends will be able to come in and save you. Get packing! Sign away your home and property now! Get out now!
The posed pictures and the disappearance of evil teenaged rock-throwing settlers point to a well-planned government operation to tear down our resolve. The government has activated the General Security Service's Jewish Desk to create scenes of violence to undermine the love of the people of Israel for the Jews of Gush Katif. Each scene of violence, with hysterical media coverage and vicious condemnation and accusation by the government, helps maintain the climate of confusion and fear that is ripping apart this country.
The Israeli media and government are staging scenes to promote the expulsion of Jews.
The IDF, using its mighty military force, first evacuated a group of teenagers occupying a building in the Muassi village across the road from N'vei Dekalim.
(The Muassi are a Bedouin tribe living in relatively peaceful coexistence with Gush Katif. They are terrified of their fate after the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif. They must now show Hamas that they are not 'collaborators'.)
The IDF continued, with its massive strength, and using the events in the Muassi village as an excuse, to evacuate the former Palm Beach Hotel, now called Maoz Yam, Stronghold of the Sea, a kilometer from the Muassi village. The troops in combat gear forcefully removed Jewish mothers, children, infants and a group of visiting, crying teenagers. Thousands of troops were used in this operation. Hundreds of troops cordoned off the roads leading to Gush Katif and hundreds more barricaded each settlement.
In twenty minutes, this 'daring' operation was over. Troops dragged and carried moms, children and babies to waiting buses. I watched the buses pull out of the hotel area. The children waved to me. The buses then ferried the hapless residents of the hotel to a dusty road some forty kilometers away, where they were deposited without food, drink or transportation to make their way home.
End of operation. The army and government declared a major victory in the war against the right-wing, radical, extremist settlers.
The local and world media were out in force to cover this historic event - a dress rehearsal for the eventual evacuation of every family in Gush Katif.
But the most fascinating story that came out of this media event was the Israeli TV crew capturing the scene of a Muassi teenager, bloodied, lying semi-conscious, while kippah-wearing teenagers threw stones at his inert body. The Israeli and world media went into a frenzy and condemned the religious Right for this 'lynching'. Every religious settler and rabbi was condemned.
But there was no truth to the story. It was deliberately posed and dramatized by the Israeli media.
These are the scenes not shown on TV, but witnessed and documented:
1. Muassi Arab boys throwing stones at the Jewish teenagers.
2. The Muassi 'lynching' victim is hit by an IDF soldier.
3. The boy is posed and repositioned by Israeli cameramen to create a scene of 'victimization'.
4. Jewish teenagers throw stones over a wall, presumably at the victim.
5. The Gush Katif security chief takes the boy, bloodied, but capable of walking, for treatment.
6. Israeli television reporters describe the 'victim' as unconscious and in critical condition.
7. The 'victim' is treated at the scene and released.
8. The Jewish teenagers filmed throwing stones conveniently disappear and cannot be found despite a massive police presence.
9. After an evening of hysterical media reports about the 'lynching', the army acts to remove young families from the hotel.
10. After several hours, roadblocks are taken down in Gush Katif.
The government's hoped-for results from this operation: to frighten the residents of Gush Katif into submission.
The message is clear: This is what awaits you. You will not succeed in evading your fate. See how efficient the army is? The roads will be blocked. Not one of your friends will be able to come in and save you. Get packing! Sign away your home and property now! Get out now!
The posed pictures and the disappearance of evil teenaged rock-throwing settlers point to a well-planned government operation to tear down our resolve. The government has activated the General Security Service's Jewish Desk to create scenes of violence to undermine the love of the people of Israel for the Jews of Gush Katif. Each scene of violence, with hysterical media coverage and vicious condemnation and accusation by the government, helps maintain the climate of confusion and fear that is ripping apart this country.
The Israeli media and government are staging scenes to promote the expulsion of Jews.