"This time, it won't be just a 'mistake,' but rather the conscious abandonment of Jewish life.” So wrote the Hevron Jewish Community to Prime Minister Sharon today, referring to the possibility that the IDF may once again withdraw from Hevron and hand over security control to the Palestinian Authority.
IDF Central Region Commander Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky was to meet with the commander of the PA's para-military force in Yesha today to discuss the above possibility. The Hevron Jewish Community sent representatives to meet with government ministers this morning and remind them that past experience shows that removing IDF presence from the Arab-populated parts of the city is almost certain to lead to further attempts to murder Jews.
Excerpts from the Hevron residents' letter to Sharon:
"We were astonished to learn that you are considering heeding the foolish advice of the Defense Minister to order the IDF to leave parts of Hevron and return the murderous terrorists to their murderous shooting positions around the Jewish Community. Now that all of Israel has come to learn the nature of your "partners in dialogue" - whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of Jews, including that of the baby Shalhevet Pass - we hereby inform you: This time it [a withdrawal] won't be just a 'mistake,' but rather the conscious abandonment of Jewish life...
"We call upon you at the last minute not to allow internal political considerations to stain the decisions of the government of Israel with Jewish blood, Heaven forbid. In this month of Elul [the month of repentance], we call upon you to repent from the insanity of Oslo... and allow the IDF to complete the liquidation of terrorism and restore security and honor to the People of Israel."
IDF Central Region Commander Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky was to meet with the commander of the PA's para-military force in Yesha today to discuss the above possibility. The Hevron Jewish Community sent representatives to meet with government ministers this morning and remind them that past experience shows that removing IDF presence from the Arab-populated parts of the city is almost certain to lead to further attempts to murder Jews.
Excerpts from the Hevron residents' letter to Sharon:
"We were astonished to learn that you are considering heeding the foolish advice of the Defense Minister to order the IDF to leave parts of Hevron and return the murderous terrorists to their murderous shooting positions around the Jewish Community. Now that all of Israel has come to learn the nature of your "partners in dialogue" - whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of Jews, including that of the baby Shalhevet Pass - we hereby inform you: This time it [a withdrawal] won't be just a 'mistake,' but rather the conscious abandonment of Jewish life...
"We call upon you at the last minute not to allow internal political considerations to stain the decisions of the government of Israel with Jewish blood, Heaven forbid. In this month of Elul [the month of repentance], we call upon you to repent from the insanity of Oslo... and allow the IDF to complete the liquidation of terrorism and restore security and honor to the People of Israel."