The Hasdei Meir organization kicked off its annual project Monday to distribute fruit seedlings to communities in Judea and Samaria for planting during the Hebrew month of Shevat, the time when new trees are planted. The project works toward the future fruit of the Land, but also looks toward the expansion of the small communities beginning to blossom on the region's hilltops.
According to Levi Chazan, the director of Hasdei Meir's English language division, the timing of this year's campaign was also meant to commemorate the anniversary of the destruction of nine permanent structures in the tiny hilltop community of Amona, located in Samaria.
The violence with which the destruction was carried out has been the subject of an investigation which resulted in at least one arrest of a security officer who participated in the incident.
Some 10,000 police officers and special operations personnel faced off with four thousand volunteers who planted themselves at the site in an effort to prevent the destruction. Mounted officers trampled unarmed protestors, while others swung heavy metal batons at others, beating them while dragging them away from the structures.
The Human Rights in Yesha organization has engaged the Tel Aviv law firm of Haim Cohen to represent the protestors who suffered at the hands of the security forces, many of whom have required repeated surgery and other treatment, including psychiatric care.
The eight-member firm has already filed some 100 complaints against the attackers with the Police Investigation Department in the Justice Ministry, with processing of 50 more almost completed and ready for filing.
The organization together with the Yesha Council also completed its report documenting the brutality at the Amona destruction. The report will be submitted to the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee as well as the Knesset Speaker and the State Comptroller.
The destruction was carried out as part of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plan to uproot large blocs of land in Judea and Samaria in preparation for ceding the land to the Palestinian Authority.
Now, for the fourth year, thousands of olive and fruit saplings are being planted in the communities nestled in the biblical hills of Judea and Samaria in the hope that their roots will deepen the Jewish hold on the land.
“This is our answer to the enemy from within,” said Chazan in an exclusive interview with Israel National News. The enemy, he added, is “anyone who comes to uproot Jews from their homeland.”
Even as Yesha residents planted the seedlings, however, the left-wing Peace Now organization protested the project, charging that “The settlers are planting the seeds for the next intifada.”
Peace Now director-general Yariv Oppenheimer reiterated the organization’s stance on development in Judea and Samaria, saying, “The defense minister should prevent the settlers from illegally taking over more territory and deal with the matter severely.”
The importance of planting a fruit tree in the Land of Israel is well known and is considered one of the ways in which to hasten the coming of the messiah.
“It is a sign of the redemption of the people of Israel when the trees will again give their fruit,” said Chazan.
The Jerusalem-based organization, started ten years ago by students of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, also distributes food packages to needy Jewish families throughout the year.
“Rabbi Kahane was a man of chesed (kindness),” said Chazan “well known for his chesed to people. We decided to continue this aspect of his work.”
He added that the organization maintains a distribution center near Mahane Yehuda (the central Jerusalem marketplace), "where people can just stop by and pick up supplies.” In particular, food packages are delivered to families who live in Judea and Samaria.
Last month hundreds of winter items were distributed to help Yesha families stay warm, including heaters, jackets and pants. The next project, said Chazan, will be its annual distribution of Passover supplies.
According to Levi Chazan, the director of Hasdei Meir's English language division, the timing of this year's campaign was also meant to commemorate the anniversary of the destruction of nine permanent structures in the tiny hilltop community of Amona, located in Samaria.
The violence with which the destruction was carried out has been the subject of an investigation which resulted in at least one arrest of a security officer who participated in the incident.
Some 10,000 police officers and special operations personnel faced off with four thousand volunteers who planted themselves at the site in an effort to prevent the destruction. Mounted officers trampled unarmed protestors, while others swung heavy metal batons at others, beating them while dragging them away from the structures.
The Human Rights in Yesha organization has engaged the Tel Aviv law firm of Haim Cohen to represent the protestors who suffered at the hands of the security forces, many of whom have required repeated surgery and other treatment, including psychiatric care.
The eight-member firm has already filed some 100 complaints against the attackers with the Police Investigation Department in the Justice Ministry, with processing of 50 more almost completed and ready for filing.
The organization together with the Yesha Council also completed its report documenting the brutality at the Amona destruction. The report will be submitted to the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee as well as the Knesset Speaker and the State Comptroller.
The destruction was carried out as part of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plan to uproot large blocs of land in Judea and Samaria in preparation for ceding the land to the Palestinian Authority.
Now, for the fourth year, thousands of olive and fruit saplings are being planted in the communities nestled in the biblical hills of Judea and Samaria in the hope that their roots will deepen the Jewish hold on the land.
“This is our answer to the enemy from within,” said Chazan in an exclusive interview with Israel National News. The enemy, he added, is “anyone who comes to uproot Jews from their homeland.”
Even as Yesha residents planted the seedlings, however, the left-wing Peace Now organization protested the project, charging that “The settlers are planting the seeds for the next intifada.”
Peace Now director-general Yariv Oppenheimer reiterated the organization’s stance on development in Judea and Samaria, saying, “The defense minister should prevent the settlers from illegally taking over more territory and deal with the matter severely.”
The importance of planting a fruit tree in the Land of Israel is well known and is considered one of the ways in which to hasten the coming of the messiah.
“It is a sign of the redemption of the people of Israel when the trees will again give their fruit,” said Chazan.
The Jerusalem-based organization, started ten years ago by students of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, also distributes food packages to needy Jewish families throughout the year.
“Rabbi Kahane was a man of chesed (kindness),” said Chazan “well known for his chesed to people. We decided to continue this aspect of his work.”
He added that the organization maintains a distribution center near Mahane Yehuda (the central Jerusalem marketplace), "where people can just stop by and pick up supplies.” In particular, food packages are delivered to families who live in Judea and Samaria.
Last month hundreds of winter items were distributed to help Yesha families stay warm, including heaters, jackets and pants. The next project, said Chazan, will be its annual distribution of Passover supplies.