Ariel Pulver, an assistant to Member of Knesset Tzipi Hotovely, was part of the group that was attacked by rock throwers last Friday on February 24th. Pulver, who is also a licensed tour guide and deputy director of Likud Anglos, spoke to Israel National Radio's Tamar Yonah Show about the incident.
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"A lot of Jewish leaders were here for the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations and other events," Pulver stated. "The Committee for the Preservation of the Mount of Olives took a tour with Congressmen Elliot Engel (Democrat - New York), Congressman Jerrold Nadler (Democrat - New York), Malcolm Hoenlein [executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations] and others. The tour was pretty much over. We had just visited the grave of Menachem Begin.
"We were walking down the steps and all of the sudden, we hear this commotion. It all happened in a matter of seconds. Two Arab youth standing behind a green dumpster started throwing rocks. Two Border Patrol soldiers came and apprehended them. The rocks were actually brought to the congressmen to bring back to America to show people and tell them that rocks can kill. They're not just 'fruity pebbles'."
Pulver rejected the idea that the attack was an isolated incident, stating, "it's important to emphasize that this is part of a larger political plan. It's not just that a few youth wake up one morning and say, 'let's start throwing rocks.' Radicalism is being funded, both in Judea and Samaria and in Jerusalem."
Pulver also spoke about the reaction of the congressmen. "I think they were a little flabbergasted," he commented. He related a story about Ed Koch, the former mayor of New York City .
"Back in December 1990, Ed Koch was actually hit by a rock in the head while he was touring the Old City of Jerusalem. He was quoted as joking, 'I know the stone wasn't meant for me because everyone likes me.' But the fact is, the stone was definitely meant for him. These rocks are thrown at us because we are Jews. I don't know if these youth understood they were throwing them at congressmen, but what they understood was they were throwing them at Jews."
Pulver praised the quick action by the Border Police and added that he hoped more would be done to protect visitors of the Mount of Olives cemetery.
Tamar Yonah hosts a live call-in talk show every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM Israel time and a Sunday afternoon show from 3:00PM - 5:00PM Israel time. For free podcast archives click here.
