"Hevron is under curfew, two or three Arab buildings were demolished, but nothing else has changed." So said Hevron Jewish Community spokesman Noam Arnon yesterday, referring to the extent of measures taken following the murderous terrorist assault some ten days earlier. Twelve soldiers, Border Guardsmen, and civilians were killed in that attack when Arab gunmen ambushed them along a narrow road leading from Kiryat Arba to Hevron. Prime Minister Sharon said the day after the attack that Jewish homes should be built there in order to create territorial contiguity between the two towns, and local residents accordingly set up a few temporary homes there.
"Despite Sharon's words," Arnon said, "the army has informed us that our new homes here - holding 3-4 families, plus a few others - will be taken down. We call on the public to come here and help strengthen us. We need hundreds of people here! People haven't internalized that 12 people were killed here! ... It's hard to believe, but nothing has changed. When six people were killed [in the Beit Hadassah terrorist attack] in 1980, everything changed - the Jewish Community began to be built. But now - nothing!"
Along similar lines, the Hevron and Kiryat Arba communities have released a copy of their letter to Prime Minister Sharon. The letter states:
"...aside from words and statements, there has not been any appropriate Israeli response to the murders, nor any actions taken preventing any further worsening of the security situation in the region.
a. No land has been cleared out between Hevron and Kiryat Arba, to and from the Machpelah Cave.
b. No punishment has been meted out. No deterrent measures have been enforced. No actions have been taken against the terrorists and their helpers.
c. Potential terrorists have not been expelled from the area.
d. Plans for construction connecting Hevron and Kiryat Arba have not been initiated.
e. Permits for the new "Giborei Hebron" - Heroes of Hevron - neighborhood have not been received. To the contrary, orders have been issued to evict its residents and to destroy the structures at the site..."
"Mr. Prime Minister," the letter concludes, "ten days after this murderous attack, we demand actions, not words! We warn that continued inaction, interpreted as Israeli weakness, will lead to further tragedy. We request that you instruct the appropriate authorities to take immediate forceful and encompassing measures to reinforce security in the area, as well as the commencement of building and development."
The new neighborhood has not been evacuated yet, however, and the army did block several left-wing MKs from arriving at the site today. The MKs demand that the outpost be dismantled.
One technical measure has been initiated as a result of the tragic battle. Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz has ordered his staffers to start working on a decision to recognize civilian emergency-team fighters as reserve soldiers for all purposes. The new decision will mean that volunteer fighters such as the three who lost their lives when they ran to battle the terrorists would be considered not "terrorism victims" but rather IDF casualties, with all the rights that are thus entailed.
"Despite Sharon's words," Arnon said, "the army has informed us that our new homes here - holding 3-4 families, plus a few others - will be taken down. We call on the public to come here and help strengthen us. We need hundreds of people here! People haven't internalized that 12 people were killed here! ... It's hard to believe, but nothing has changed. When six people were killed [in the Beit Hadassah terrorist attack] in 1980, everything changed - the Jewish Community began to be built. But now - nothing!"
Along similar lines, the Hevron and Kiryat Arba communities have released a copy of their letter to Prime Minister Sharon. The letter states:
"...aside from words and statements, there has not been any appropriate Israeli response to the murders, nor any actions taken preventing any further worsening of the security situation in the region.
a. No land has been cleared out between Hevron and Kiryat Arba, to and from the Machpelah Cave.
b. No punishment has been meted out. No deterrent measures have been enforced. No actions have been taken against the terrorists and their helpers.
c. Potential terrorists have not been expelled from the area.
d. Plans for construction connecting Hevron and Kiryat Arba have not been initiated.
e. Permits for the new "Giborei Hebron" - Heroes of Hevron - neighborhood have not been received. To the contrary, orders have been issued to evict its residents and to destroy the structures at the site..."
"Mr. Prime Minister," the letter concludes, "ten days after this murderous attack, we demand actions, not words! We warn that continued inaction, interpreted as Israeli weakness, will lead to further tragedy. We request that you instruct the appropriate authorities to take immediate forceful and encompassing measures to reinforce security in the area, as well as the commencement of building and development."
The new neighborhood has not been evacuated yet, however, and the army did block several left-wing MKs from arriving at the site today. The MKs demand that the outpost be dismantled.
One technical measure has been initiated as a result of the tragic battle. Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz has ordered his staffers to start working on a decision to recognize civilian emergency-team fighters as reserve soldiers for all purposes. The new decision will mean that volunteer fighters such as the three who lost their lives when they ran to battle the terrorists would be considered not "terrorism victims" but rather IDF casualties, with all the rights that are thus entailed.