When Does Hebron’s Story Begin? from The Jewish Week

From: The Jewish Week
[http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a12508/News/New_York.html#]

When Does Hebron’s Story Begin? by Jonathan Mark, Associate Editor
Critics start in 1967; Settlers start in1929 — or antiquity.

When does history begin?

When explaining black America, in the wake of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof (March 30) looks to America’s “legacy of slavery, Tuskegee and Jim Crow,” context spanning 250 years.

But when it comes to Hebron, Kristof and B’Tselem — the Israeli human rights organization that Kristof relies on — history begins June 11, 1967, the seventh day of the Six-Day War, start of the occupation. That’s convenient, of course, because the story of Hebron — the world’s oldest Jewish city, according to the State of Israel — becomes too sympathetic if you start the day or the decades before that.

Kristof notes that Israel’s security “is nowhere more stifling than here in Hebron.” To protect

800 settlers, “the Israeli military has established a massive system of guard posts, checkpoints and road closures since 2001. More than 1,800 Palestinian shops have closed, in some cases the doors welded shut, and several thousand people have been driven from their homes.”

Not one word from Kristof or B’Tselem about Jewish buildings shuttered or Jews driven from their Hebron homes in 1929.

Kristof acknowledges, “The settlers see the issue very differently, emphasizing the continuing Palestinian attacks on them and noting that the security steps were put in place only in reaction to Palestinian terrorism during the second intifada a half-dozen years ago.”

And yet, Kristof writes, “In the Palestinian territories,” as if those territories are not disputed, “you see the worst side of Israel: Jewish settlers stealing land from Palestinians,” and also “the very best side of Israel. Israeli human rights groups,” such as B’Tselem that “relentlessly stand up for Palestinians ... the most persuasive indictments of Israeli actions come from Israelis themselves.”

Kristof hoped that when American candidates “compete this year to be ‘pro-Israeli,’ let’s hope that they clarify that the one they support is not the oppressor that lets settlers steal land and club women but the one that is a paragon of justice, decency, fairness — and peace.”

If Kristof can go back to slavery in the 1800s, well, Rivka Slonim, Chabad emissary at the University of Binghamton, tells The Jewish Week that Slonims were living in Hebron in 1845. At what point does a settlement graduate to the dignity of being a neighborhood? How about a settlement that was established before 23 states were admitted to the Union?

On Oct. 13, 1912, the Times reported that Jews “owned 40 villages” in what is now Israel, including 23 villages in what is now the West Bank. In Hebron, there were yeshivas, Hadassah Hospital and a Jewish branch of a London bank making loans to “agriculturalists and traders.”

On July 12, 1914, the Times reported that Henry Morgenthau, U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, made an official visit to Hebron “where a triumphal arch spanned the road and Jewish schoolchildren sang songs of welcome.” Special dispensation from the Ottoman Empire allowed Morgenthau to enter the Cave of the Patriarchs, the first Jew to do so in centuries.

On Dec. 8, 1917, when British troops captured Hebron, the Times headlined that Hebron was where King David had lived, with the article adding that this was David’s capital for seven years, facts about Hebron that are rarely if ever mentioned anymore, in a journalistic atmosphere that is more about delegitimizing Israel than explaining it.

If slavery was America’s “original sin,” the 1929 ethnic cleansing was Hebron’s. For three days, Aug. 26-28, the Times ran daily stories and sidebars about an Arab attack that started on Shabbat morning at Hebron’s Slabodka Rabbinical College, killing 30. The toll of the dead and wounded from further rampages neared 120.

Kristof complains about the IDF presence in 2008. In 1929, JTA reported, and the Times quoted, “casualties mounted high because of the lack of a Jewish ‘self-defense’ group.”
The Times added, “Moslem Arabs seem to take particular delight in destroying Jewish religious institutions.” In the house of “A.D. Slonim, manager of the local branch of the Anglo-Palestine Bank, where more than 50 took refuge, 18 were killed.... The barbarity of the attackers knew no bounds.” Women were raped; the dead were “mutilated.”

The Times reported that Hebron had to be “evacuated by the Jewish inhabitants.”
A few days later, a Jewish burial society returned to Hebron, protected by British troops, to literally pick up the pieces. They worked from dawn into “the glaring rays” of afternoon. According to the Times reporter, “the examination [of the dead] was plainly visible and was burned into the memories of the newspaper men.”

In 1980, after the Camp David Accords that would have restored Palestinian autonomy to the West Bank, a position rejected by Yasir Arafat, a 23-year-old yeshiva student was murdered by Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization for the crime of walking in Hebron.

Ten days later, David Shipler reported (Feb. 10, 1980), “Israel’s cabinet supported in principle today the position that Jews have the right to resettle in the heart of the occupied city of Hebron where the last Jewish community was destroyed by Arab rioting in 1929.”
Shipler wrote that 56 buildings in Hebron were still registered to their Jewish owners from 1929. Many of the Jewish homes in Hebron remained uninhabited, reports Shipler, “not only because they realized that sooner or later the Jews had a chance of returning, but also because they thought the houses were haunted by the ghosts of Jews killed in 1929.”

Not a word from Kristof about how the Hebron “settlement” came to be. Kristof speaks of “shuttered” Palestinian buildings but not buildings shuttered and haunted by Jewish “ghosts.” To Kristof, the children of these ghosts are “the worst of Israel.”

NGO Monitor, a Jewish group in Israel, charged that B’Tselem is known for appropriating “human rights rhetoric for partisan goals.” B’Tselem begins its version of history after the 1948 war. That’s convenient because Arab armies in 1948 prevented Jews from returning to Hebron, and also expelled Jews from Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter. According to B’Tselem’s Web site, the Jewish return to the Old City’s Jewish Quarter (site of the Western Wall) in 1967 constituted “land expropriation” from Palestinians, violating international law.

As NGO Monitor points out, “context is inconvenient for promoting B’Tselem’s political objectives, which would mean again removing the Jewish population from Hebron.” NGO Monitor also highlights B’Tselem’s frequent charge that Israel is “racist” and “apartheid” simply “trivializes legitimate Israeli anti-terror requirements,” implying that Israel’s concerns are motivated by ethnicity rather than terror dating back decades.

B’Tselem, founded in 1989 by Israeli academics, journalists, human rights activists and several Knesset members, is a recipient of the Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize, established by President Jimmy Carter.

On its Web site, B’Tselem openly acknowledges that it is partisan. It monitors Palestinian violations but “as an Israeli organization ... the majority of [B’Tselem’s] efforts are directed at violations committed by our government on behalf of all of us. Juin, 2008

Komokarzy the First visits Israeli Knesicircus

Komokarzy the First today blasted his way into the Israeli Knesicircus, taking center ring. It wasn't clear to the viewers if the visitor was appearing as a clown or a suicide bomber, and they had trouble deciding whether to laugh or cry.

Actually Komokarzy confided to the Prime Monster of the Knesicircus that he planned on requesting asylum during the show, due to the fact that some 5 million Islamic fanatics had overrun his country, and were now over 8% of the population. However the Prime Monster replied that the all the Israeli asylums were packed full of ex-politicians being tested for insanity pleas and there was no room for foreigners.

That was when Komokarzy the first decided to join the ranks of his fast-breeding newcomers to his country, and convert on the spot. Sticking out his tongue at the two Israeli Chief Rabbis and then opening his arms and bowing in the direction of his new found friends in the stinking bullpen, Kamokarzy smiled a wicked smile and proclaimed:

I will always be your friend. (One of the viewers in the Knesicircus whisperdly exclaimed: "Look, there in the mirror - you can see his other side - he has his fingers crossed!!!" He, he, he --- he doesn't mean it!! He's lying!! How can this be - the great Komokarzy the First is lying to us, in our own home, on our own turf, in the Knesicircus!!!"

Then, smiling only at the stinking bullpen, but frowning sternly at the others, he continued: For the sake of piece you must expel at least 300,000 Jews from their homes, and relocate them. NOW!
One of the Knescircus pawnamentarians piped up from the gallery, let's have a party transfer, ah, ah, no, that's transfer party, ah - as long as your country is becoming Muslim, you take our Arabs and you give us your Jews - and you'll be remembered ever after as the great piece maker - you'll even get the Nepal Prize - here, we can award you one now."

Komokarzy whipped out a smelly French kiss that had belonged to his wife and tossed it at the speaker who promptly shriveled up and melted from the odor.

After that, everyone kept their mouths shut.

The Komokarzy continued: you will build an Ark, load them up, and put them out to sea. There is no room for them here, but the ocean is very very large.

You will then imitate the way it was in the beginning of your peoplehood. I am going to reward you for your hard labor so many years ago. Then you were forced to build – today you will take vacation; no one will build. All building will stop, as of now

Then the water parted. Today it will not be the sea, rather the city will be divided. Almost as written in the Bible, with only slight variations. My word is as good as His.

Now you will vote on my piece plan: Mr. Prime Monster, how do you say?

“Yeah Yeah,” he replied. Yeah, yeah all the pawnamentarians yelled.

Komokarzy the First then looked towards his new found friends, sitting in the stinking bullpen, and waved with a victory salute.

To his great shock, he saw them ignite a small rocket, with the words Komokarzy the Second engraved on the side. The fired it in his direction and seconds later he was gone, a puff in the wind.

As his spirit drifted aimlessly above them, as if lost in space, he cried down to them: why, why?

Ignoring him, the bullpen players huddled to plan their next play, saying: a Komokarzy thought he’d get out of here alive? Guess we showed him a thing or two. Who’s next?

Reaction:The Two Israels-Nicholas D. Kristof in NYTimes

Nicholas D. Kristof called me a few days ago and we spoke for a while on the phone. Obviously he visited Hebron, but did not see fit to interview me at the time, preferring a phone conversation. That fact, in and of itself, is unfortunate, for had he spent some time with me on site, seeing Hebron through Jewish-Israeli eyes also, perhaps his column would have been written differently.

Perhaps, on the other hand, Kristof came to Hebron with an agenda and interviewed me only to be able to include a 'soundbyte' with a 'setter' in order to fulfill the seemingly 'objectivity obligation' of professional journalists.

His 'agenda' is all too plausible, considering, for example, the books he suggested as reading material, including one by Akiva Eldar, who is one of the leading leftist columnists in Israel, writing for the most leftwing daily in the country.

This thought is reinforced with Kritsof's reliance on "B'tzelem" – an Arab-Palestinian 'human-rights' organization, which cares only about Arab human rights, but has no interest in Israeli-Jewish human rights. It is composed of Arabs and extreme left wing activists, whose goal is Israel-bashing.

Of course, Kristof quotes only one short sentence from our interview. He seems to have forgotten a number of points broached during our conversation:

Kristof claims: More than 1,800 Palestinian shops have closed, in some cases the doors welded shut, and several thousand people have been driven from their homes.

The number 1,800 is greatly exaggerated. According to ranking IDF sources the number is closer to nine hundred. (This is one of the problems with foreign journalists who are quick to accept anything and everything given to them by B'tzelem or other left-wing organizations without demanding proof of their statements.)

Why are any stores closed in Hebron? Ten years ago they were all open. However, with the outbreak of the 'Oslo War' (the 2nd Intifada) in October, 2000, Arab terrorist gunman began shooting at the Jewish neighborhoods in Hebron from the very hills transferred to them by Israel as part of the Hebron Accords, implemented in 1997. People were shot at on the streets, and in their cars and homes. An infant was murdered by a sniper, others were wounded and a suicide bomber exploded on the main road, killing the Levy couple from Kiryat Arba. The IDF had no choice but to close stores in Hebron because of the security threat they posed. That threat still exists today. Terrorists are frequently apprehended, admitting that they planned to kill a Jew.

At the same time it must be noted that the Arabs of Hebron have access to about 98% of the entire city, whereas Jews have access to 3% of the city. The "Arab" side of Hebron, under the control of the Palestinian Authority is called "The Safest Place in the territories" by Danny Rubenstein, another Ha'aretz writer (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/857308.html).

He writes: Most Israelis imagine Hebron to be the site of harsh conflicts between Jewish settlers and Arab residents. But the truth is that with the exception of the point of contention at the Tomb of the Patriarchs, this is the quietest and safest city in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

While Gaza is the scene of daily shootings and infighting between a variety of groups, and one might say that personal safety in Ramallah and Nablus is also precarious, Hebron is tranquil.

There are no militias, no armed gangs and no hooligans. There is a traditional tribal social structure, no refugee camps inside the city and the town's large and powerful families do not permit lawlessness…The market… is a source of pride among Hebron residents. It is clean and organized. Trade between merchants is documented on computers and municipality officials say there is no more modern and efficient market in the entire PA. Nor is there a market like it in Jordan or even in Tel Aviv."

I totally and utterly reject the statement that thousands of Arabs have been driven from their homes. This is totally false. There are Arabs who have left of their own accord, but none have been expelled, as is written in the article.

The Abu Aisha baby story is also a fairy-tale. Did the author request proof, or accept it at face value? There is absolutely no impediment to an Arab ambulance reaching her home. It should also be noted that her home is a five minute walk to the checkpoint leading to the Arab side of the city. She and her neighbors have never had any problems getting to, or leaving their homes.

Kristof writes: "Even if the Hebron settlement were not illegal in the eyes of much of the world, it is utterly impractical. The financial cost is mind-boggling, and the diplomatic cost is greater."

Firstly, the Hebron Jewish community was recognized and given legitimacy by Arafat himself, when he signed the Hebron Accords in January, 1997.
2. The claims that Hebron's Jewish community is illegal according to international law are nonsense. Jews lived in Hebron for thousands of years until being expelled in 1929, following the massacre which left 67 Jews murdered and scores wounded.
3. What 'the eyes of the world" think is absolutely  irrelevant. The 'eyes of the world' were blind to the annihilation of 6 million Jews 60 years ago. Only yesterday we read that the UN opposes any military strike against the Iranian nuclear plants. What would they prefer: that Israel go up in flames?!
4. The IDF is stationed in Hebron for more than one reason. Of course, they are here to protect the city's residents and over half a million annual visitors. However, they are also in Hebron to prevent the city from becoming a terrorist nest, as was Jenin and other Samaria cities, when the IDF evacuated them. Terrorists from Hebron have perpetrated mass murder in Tel Aviv and other cities in Israel. Only a strong IDF presence in the city can deter such attacks.

As for the checkpoints, that is the only point the author allows me a reaction in his article. No point could be more valid.

The other so-called facts Kristof mentions in the articles are nothing more than well-polished regurgitations from the Arab propaganda machine. Again, no proof of facts, only oft-repeated claims, with nothing to back them up.

Kristof told me that he's not stationed in the Middle East. This is quite clear from the ignorance he portrays in this column. I would suggest that the next time the NY Times desires to print a column about Hebron, they should instruct their reporter to visit both sides, and examine the issues accurately and objectively, rather than publish such a biased, imprecise article.