Itai Zar, brother of Gilad Zar - security officer and terrorist victim for whom the Gilad Farm is named - said today, "We will continue farming the land, because this is [my father's] private land - and in fact the entire evacuation was illegal." He blamed the media for blowing up the matter of alleged violence: "There were only very individual cases of violence. The 'youth of the hilltops' are great kids, true Zionists who run after the land - much better than running after drugs and other nonsense…"
Former Yesha Council head Yisrael Har'el, writing in Ha'aretz last week, also had warm words for Yesha youth, calling them "pure in intention and deed" and "prepared to struggle and sacrifice on behalf of ideals." Har'el wrote that those in the media and on the left who so bitterly attack them are essentially jealous that this youth, "which is so willing to sacrifice on behalf of ideals, is found mainly in the camp of Religious Zionism these days."
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer referred to Har'el's article last night, saying, "I just want to remind Har'el that he forgot one thing: A Prime Minister was assassinated." On Sunday, Ben-Eliezer addressed the Labor Party convention and said, "The blood that was made cheap seven years ago is once again not dear. Don't say, we didn't know… If you do not condemn and uproot from your midst those who make blood cheap, and come out against this violent youth, you will not be able to wash your hands in innocence. Stop the movie now, before the bitter end. I am not sure that the State of Israel will be able to withstand another political murder."
Har'el responded today on Arutz-7, saying that Ben-Eliezer had descended to very low levels "by inciting against our camp... I don't recall a campaign of such vile incitement against the Yesha population, and especially the youth, since the terrible incitement of seven years ago [after Rabin's assassination]…" Har'el agreed that not enough efforts are being invested in dealing with the minuscule percentage of youth who acted improperly at the Gilad Farm:
"I am not defending those who cut tires, or attacked Rabbi Ronsky, or who steal olives from the Arabs whose living depends on that. I come to defend the wonderful youth in general, the 2nd and 3rd generation of the Yesha population - wherever they are in Israel. I think that it is in their merit that the State of Israel has a future; they are the only idealistic youth in the country. The State of Israel is part of this youth's essence. They feel responsibility towards the country and the entire society…"
Former Yesha Council head Yisrael Har'el, writing in Ha'aretz last week, also had warm words for Yesha youth, calling them "pure in intention and deed" and "prepared to struggle and sacrifice on behalf of ideals." Har'el wrote that those in the media and on the left who so bitterly attack them are essentially jealous that this youth, "which is so willing to sacrifice on behalf of ideals, is found mainly in the camp of Religious Zionism these days."
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer referred to Har'el's article last night, saying, "I just want to remind Har'el that he forgot one thing: A Prime Minister was assassinated." On Sunday, Ben-Eliezer addressed the Labor Party convention and said, "The blood that was made cheap seven years ago is once again not dear. Don't say, we didn't know… If you do not condemn and uproot from your midst those who make blood cheap, and come out against this violent youth, you will not be able to wash your hands in innocence. Stop the movie now, before the bitter end. I am not sure that the State of Israel will be able to withstand another political murder."
Har'el responded today on Arutz-7, saying that Ben-Eliezer had descended to very low levels "by inciting against our camp... I don't recall a campaign of such vile incitement against the Yesha population, and especially the youth, since the terrible incitement of seven years ago [after Rabin's assassination]…" Har'el agreed that not enough efforts are being invested in dealing with the minuscule percentage of youth who acted improperly at the Gilad Farm:
"I am not defending those who cut tires, or attacked Rabbi Ronsky, or who steal olives from the Arabs whose living depends on that. I come to defend the wonderful youth in general, the 2nd and 3rd generation of the Yesha population - wherever they are in Israel. I think that it is in their merit that the State of Israel has a future; they are the only idealistic youth in the country. The State of Israel is part of this youth's essence. They feel responsibility towards the country and the entire society…"