Hevron has become a strong base for Hamas over the past months, and in fact some of the major terrorist attacks during this period have been perpetrated by terrorists from Hevron. In an attempt to protect the Jewish residents of Hevron from daily exposure to this menace, the army has long banned the opening of 100 Arab stores that are adjacent to the Jewish neighborhoods - and has been paying the owners tens of millions of shekels in compensation as a result. Hevron spokesman Noam Arnon noted that the payment was court-mandated with the help of left-wing elements.
This morning, however, the army decided that the security risks are outweighed by the financial costs, and opened some of the stores this morning. The stores closest to the Jewish neighborhoods will remain closed.
Hevron spokesman Noam Arnon said today that the Jews of Hevron demand that the stores remain closed. He said that local Jewish leaders had met with legal and military officials, and concluded that if the closings are termed a "security necessary," then compensation need not be paid. "It's not only a danger to us here in Hevron," Arnon said. "These stores provide a meeting place for the terrorists, from where they set out to perpetrate attacks throughout the country." He noted that the recent #2 and #14 Jerusalem bus massacres, the bus bombing in Haifa (15 murdered) in March of this year, and others were the work of Hamas terrorists from Hevron.
This morning, however, the army decided that the security risks are outweighed by the financial costs, and opened some of the stores this morning. The stores closest to the Jewish neighborhoods will remain closed.
Hevron spokesman Noam Arnon said today that the Jews of Hevron demand that the stores remain closed. He said that local Jewish leaders had met with legal and military officials, and concluded that if the closings are termed a "security necessary," then compensation need not be paid. "It's not only a danger to us here in Hevron," Arnon said. "These stores provide a meeting place for the terrorists, from where they set out to perpetrate attacks throughout the country." He noted that the recent #2 and #14 Jerusalem bus massacres, the bus bombing in Haifa (15 murdered) in March of this year, and others were the work of Hamas terrorists from Hevron.