Despite warnings from military and security heads in Israel that Hamas and Hizbullah are active throughout the West Bank, particularly in northern Samaria, and that they will turn the area into another Lebanon if Israel withdraws, Israeli leaders are planning to do just that.
Statements by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Amir Peretz that they will follow the Road Map - devised by the Quartet, which includes Russia, a major supplier of Iranian nuclear bomb-making facilities and Syrian and Hizbullah arms - is a clear indication that Jewish communities are once again on the chopping block. Recent suggestions that unilateral withdrawal ("realignment," "convergence," etc.) from Judea and Samaria are temporarily off the agenda apparently do not apply to all Jewish communities.
According to an official source in the defense minister's office, as soon as the IDF forces are withdrawn from Lebanon, the so-called "illegal outposts" - extensions of long-established Jewish communities and strategically located off-shoots that were built with government assistance - will be destroyed. Some have been given demolition and evacuation notices. In preparation for the next stage of unilateral withdrawal, Israeli police have also arrested Jewish "activists" (those designated as possible resisters) throughout Judea and Samaria. No charges, no trials.
The IDF confirmed that its soldiers, "in cooperation with all Israeli security bodies, conduct... enforcement operations in regard to illegal settlements, according to decisions of the political echelon." The IDF also confirmed that it had issued restrictive orders and arrest warrants for Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria "following the decision of the minister of defense and the prime minister." The orders were signed by Captain Harel Weinberg, legal advisor to the military authority in the area, under General Yair Naveh. These orders are still in effect and there are no plans to void them.
A military source explained that these warrants "are given to law breakers who act violently towards Palestinians living in the area or towards security forces operating in the area." This apparently includes those who have been involved in self-defense actions and other confrontations.
An example is Boaz Albert, who lived with his wife Irit and six children on "Hill 725", a neighborhood ("outpost") of Yitzhar with a half-dozen families. On June 22, the police served him with orders prohibiting him from residing in Judea and Samaria. Since her husband's banishment, Irit has been living in her home alone with her children. Why Albert?
One afternoon a year and a half ago, Albert, the security chief of Yitzhar, was resting at home when an Arab "olive picker" sneaked up the hill and broke into his home. Albert managed to wound the intruder, who ran away. But the Arab infiltrator later died of his wounds. After a thorough investigation by police and the IDF, and media accusations of deliberate murder, Albert was cleared of all criminal charges.
But the police suspect that he will try to resist the destruction of his home.
In another case, Ariel Gruner, an activist working with Honenu, a legal defense organization, and who also lives on Hill 725 with his wife and child, was just released after serving two months in prison. Again, there was no trial and no charges.
The IDF refused to answer whether the people who had been arrested or forced to leave their homes had been charged or suspected of any criminal activity. Both the IDF spokesman and the defense minister's office refused to elaborate on plans to carry out the destruction of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. But several actions against Jewish residents of these areas were already carried out during the Lebanese war; and Prime Minister Olmert has indicated that his plans for unilateral withdrawal would be "postponed," but would remain operative.
Recent rumors that the ministry of justice might consider legalizing some of the outposts slated for destruction have not been confirmed. Some speculate such rumors may be part of an attempt to throw opponents off balance.
Spokespeople for the outposts emphasize that the outposts guard the perimeters of larger communities and provide a first line of defense. Although the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel has challenged the government's position that the outposts are "illegal," the status of these communities is uncertain. Ironically, Israel, which has made every effort to respect and protect Arab property rights, ignores the property rights of Jews. In the forefront of the fight against discrimination against Jews, the Israeli government has enacted an unjust policy in Judea and Samaria.
According to official figures, hundreds of thousands of illegal structures have been built by Arabs throughout Israel, including in "the West Bank" - tens of thousands in Jerusalem alone. Yet, few of them have been destroyed. In contrast, the government has followed a racist policy of destroying only Jewish homes and Jewish communities.
Not only does this policy serve no purpose, it is a security risk. Muslim terrorists are able to establish themselves in Israel's heartland, depriving Israel of its strategic position and control of natural resources, especially water. Nearly everyone, from military experts to environmentalists, predicts Israeli withdrawal will be disastrous.
Think we learned any lessons from Gaza and Lebanon? Think again.
Statements by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Amir Peretz that they will follow the Road Map - devised by the Quartet, which includes Russia, a major supplier of Iranian nuclear bomb-making facilities and Syrian and Hizbullah arms - is a clear indication that Jewish communities are once again on the chopping block. Recent suggestions that unilateral withdrawal ("realignment," "convergence," etc.) from Judea and Samaria are temporarily off the agenda apparently do not apply to all Jewish communities.
According to an official source in the defense minister's office, as soon as the IDF forces are withdrawn from Lebanon, the so-called "illegal outposts" - extensions of long-established Jewish communities and strategically located off-shoots that were built with government assistance - will be destroyed. Some have been given demolition and evacuation notices. In preparation for the next stage of unilateral withdrawal, Israeli police have also arrested Jewish "activists" (those designated as possible resisters) throughout Judea and Samaria. No charges, no trials.
The IDF confirmed that its soldiers, "in cooperation with all Israeli security bodies, conduct... enforcement operations in regard to illegal settlements, according to decisions of the political echelon." The IDF also confirmed that it had issued restrictive orders and arrest warrants for Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria "following the decision of the minister of defense and the prime minister." The orders were signed by Captain Harel Weinberg, legal advisor to the military authority in the area, under General Yair Naveh. These orders are still in effect and there are no plans to void them.
A military source explained that these warrants "are given to law breakers who act violently towards Palestinians living in the area or towards security forces operating in the area." This apparently includes those who have been involved in self-defense actions and other confrontations.
An example is Boaz Albert, who lived with his wife Irit and six children on "Hill 725", a neighborhood ("outpost") of Yitzhar with a half-dozen families. On June 22, the police served him with orders prohibiting him from residing in Judea and Samaria. Since her husband's banishment, Irit has been living in her home alone with her children. Why Albert?
One afternoon a year and a half ago, Albert, the security chief of Yitzhar, was resting at home when an Arab "olive picker" sneaked up the hill and broke into his home. Albert managed to wound the intruder, who ran away. But the Arab infiltrator later died of his wounds. After a thorough investigation by police and the IDF, and media accusations of deliberate murder, Albert was cleared of all criminal charges.
But the police suspect that he will try to resist the destruction of his home.
In another case, Ariel Gruner, an activist working with Honenu, a legal defense organization, and who also lives on Hill 725 with his wife and child, was just released after serving two months in prison. Again, there was no trial and no charges.
The IDF refused to answer whether the people who had been arrested or forced to leave their homes had been charged or suspected of any criminal activity. Both the IDF spokesman and the defense minister's office refused to elaborate on plans to carry out the destruction of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. But several actions against Jewish residents of these areas were already carried out during the Lebanese war; and Prime Minister Olmert has indicated that his plans for unilateral withdrawal would be "postponed," but would remain operative.
Recent rumors that the ministry of justice might consider legalizing some of the outposts slated for destruction have not been confirmed. Some speculate such rumors may be part of an attempt to throw opponents off balance.
Spokespeople for the outposts emphasize that the outposts guard the perimeters of larger communities and provide a first line of defense. Although the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel has challenged the government's position that the outposts are "illegal," the status of these communities is uncertain. Ironically, Israel, which has made every effort to respect and protect Arab property rights, ignores the property rights of Jews. In the forefront of the fight against discrimination against Jews, the Israeli government has enacted an unjust policy in Judea and Samaria.
According to official figures, hundreds of thousands of illegal structures have been built by Arabs throughout Israel, including in "the West Bank" - tens of thousands in Jerusalem alone. Yet, few of them have been destroyed. In contrast, the government has followed a racist policy of destroying only Jewish homes and Jewish communities.
Not only does this policy serve no purpose, it is a security risk. Muslim terrorists are able to establish themselves in Israel's heartland, depriving Israel of its strategic position and control of natural resources, especially water. Nearly everyone, from military experts to environmentalists, predicts Israeli withdrawal will be disastrous.
Think we learned any lessons from Gaza and Lebanon? Think again.