Remarks by a former Prime Ministerial office head continue to cause a storm - although some don't know why.
Uri Elitzur headed Binyamin Netanyahu's Prime Ministerial office from Feb. 1998 until Netanyahu was replaced by Ehud Barak in May 1999. Editor of the monthly Nekudah magazine representing Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and a member of the Yesha Council, Elitzur said this week that he will "accept with understanding" those who protect their homes via the use of injurious violence. Elitzur's words, as reported in this week's B'Sheva newspaper:
"Uprooting a community is illegal and shocking, and therefore it is justified [for a soldier] to refuse orders to do so, and [for a resident to use] violence and any other means by which to defend his home from which he is being expelled for political reasons. I recommend refusing orders, since they are illegal; whoever fulfills these orders will be brought to trial...
"In my opinion, any use of force, except for live weapons, is legitimate in such a case. After the fact, even someone who injures those who come to expel him - I would accept his behavior with understanding."
Elitzur's remarks, originally reported on Arutz-7's Hebrew website yesterday morning, drew fire from all directions - first from the left, and then, more moderately, from the right. Peace Now and Meretz MK Avshalom Vilan said that the police should investigate whether Elitzur had violated laws banning incitement to violence, while Shinui MK Ilan Liebowitz said that Elitzur should be arrested. Justice Minister Tommy Lapid of Shinui surprised no one by accusing Elitzur of inciting to criminal activity. Later in the day, President Moshe Katzav condemned Elitzur's statements, and even the Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) Council distanced itself from what its member had said. It released a statement saying that only legitimate tools should be used to wage the battle, "and not violence."
Some, however, were more tolerant of Elitzur's position, comparing the foreseen struggle in Gush Katif to countless other violent demonstrations that have taken place in Israel and elsewhere. MK Uri Ariel (National Union), told Arutz-7 last night,
"I understand him completely. The Prime Minister is acting in a totally undemocratic manner, with no popular vote and firing ministers who don't agree with him, and this pushes us into places that we did not want to reach. There must be supervision, of course, and Elitzur did not call for the use of violence, but rather said that there was likely to be violence and that he understood it. It's natural that this should happen, when half the nation is put into an impossible situation. The Prime Minister is acting dictatorially, and this is our SOS. He was voted in on a platform of supporting the Land of Israel... There are some things that even a majority cannot force on a minority."
Uri Elitzur headed Binyamin Netanyahu's Prime Ministerial office from Feb. 1998 until Netanyahu was replaced by Ehud Barak in May 1999. Editor of the monthly Nekudah magazine representing Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and a member of the Yesha Council, Elitzur said this week that he will "accept with understanding" those who protect their homes via the use of injurious violence. Elitzur's words, as reported in this week's B'Sheva newspaper:
"Uprooting a community is illegal and shocking, and therefore it is justified [for a soldier] to refuse orders to do so, and [for a resident to use] violence and any other means by which to defend his home from which he is being expelled for political reasons. I recommend refusing orders, since they are illegal; whoever fulfills these orders will be brought to trial...
"In my opinion, any use of force, except for live weapons, is legitimate in such a case. After the fact, even someone who injures those who come to expel him - I would accept his behavior with understanding."
Elitzur's remarks, originally reported on Arutz-7's Hebrew website yesterday morning, drew fire from all directions - first from the left, and then, more moderately, from the right. Peace Now and Meretz MK Avshalom Vilan said that the police should investigate whether Elitzur had violated laws banning incitement to violence, while Shinui MK Ilan Liebowitz said that Elitzur should be arrested. Justice Minister Tommy Lapid of Shinui surprised no one by accusing Elitzur of inciting to criminal activity. Later in the day, President Moshe Katzav condemned Elitzur's statements, and even the Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) Council distanced itself from what its member had said. It released a statement saying that only legitimate tools should be used to wage the battle, "and not violence."
Some, however, were more tolerant of Elitzur's position, comparing the foreseen struggle in Gush Katif to countless other violent demonstrations that have taken place in Israel and elsewhere. MK Uri Ariel (National Union), told Arutz-7 last night,
"I understand him completely. The Prime Minister is acting in a totally undemocratic manner, with no popular vote and firing ministers who don't agree with him, and this pushes us into places that we did not want to reach. There must be supervision, of course, and Elitzur did not call for the use of violence, but rather said that there was likely to be violence and that he understood it. It's natural that this should happen, when half the nation is put into an impossible situation. The Prime Minister is acting dictatorially, and this is our SOS. He was voted in on a platform of supporting the Land of Israel... There are some things that even a majority cannot force on a minority."