In an interview in Maariv newspaper, Maj-Gen. Ya'ir Naveh de-legitimized the Jewish residents of Hebron. He said it was his responsibility to ensure that every soldier sees his mission as both legal and legitimate: “In Lebanon, we educated generations of soldiers to look back at the lights of the [Israeli] communities in the north and see from where we derive our strength. For the soldiers [guarding] the Cave of the Patriarchs, it’s hard for me to tell them to [do that].”
Naveh claims that the Jews of Hebron have been hostile and offensive to his troops. He said his plan to withdraw the IDF from Hevron was designed to threaten the leaders of the community. He says that If they don’t improve their attitude towards his troops, he intends to carry it out.
Hevron’s Jewish residents responded to Neveh’s accusations, saying that Naveh's attitude toward them has been like that of an enemy. They cited a series of arrests that were carried out on his orders, as well as the intentional harming of Jewish civilians and their property. Residents claim that Naveh has personally authorized the use of violence against them.
Long-time Hevron resident and spokesperson Orit Strook responded that Naveh’s attack on the community via the media was totally unjustified. “He accuses us of things that have no basis,” she said.
Regarding Naveh’s claims that residents mistreat soldiers, Strook said that Naveh incited his soldiers against the residents, resulting in harsh responses from some members of the community. “People are being harmed and they’re unwilling to be tread upon,” she explained.
Several Hevron supporters attacked Naveh's position, noting the irony of his being one of the few top generals who sport a yarmulke.
The Jewish Community of Hevron has published an official response to Naveh’s harsh words to the media:
Naveh claims that the Jews of Hebron have been hostile and offensive to his troops. He said his plan to withdraw the IDF from Hevron was designed to threaten the leaders of the community. He says that If they don’t improve their attitude towards his troops, he intends to carry it out.
Hevron’s Jewish residents responded to Neveh’s accusations, saying that Naveh's attitude toward them has been like that of an enemy. They cited a series of arrests that were carried out on his orders, as well as the intentional harming of Jewish civilians and their property. Residents claim that Naveh has personally authorized the use of violence against them.
Long-time Hevron resident and spokesperson Orit Strook responded that Naveh’s attack on the community via the media was totally unjustified. “He accuses us of things that have no basis,” she said.
Regarding Naveh’s claims that residents mistreat soldiers, Strook said that Naveh incited his soldiers against the residents, resulting in harsh responses from some members of the community. “People are being harmed and they’re unwilling to be tread upon,” she explained.
Several Hevron supporters attacked Naveh's position, noting the irony of his being one of the few top generals who sport a yarmulke.
The Jewish Community of Hevron has published an official response to Naveh’s harsh words to the media:
“General Naveh has decided to reveal his personal political opinions and to begin executing the second phase of the expulsion plan:
* saying (in an interview with the Yediot Acharonot newspaper) that “Palestinian children crossing the security barrier” remind him of the Holocaust (is someone comparing IDF soldiers to the Nazis, heaven forbid?);
* saying that it “was hard” for him to explain to soldiers why it is important to guard the Cave of the Patriarchs - the burial place of our forefathers, the first Hebrew land purchase in the Land of Israel, and place of pilgrimage for thousands of Jewish worshipers every year;
* after deciding to remove two Border Patrol brigades from active duty, soldiers who were working to preclude terrorist attacks... and instead, get them to work against “the Jewish enemy;"
* after ordering a curfew on a Jewish neighborhood in Hevron (for the first time in the history of the State of Israel);
... General Naveh continues to gallop ahead and suggests removing the IDF from Hevron. We thank the General for being completely candid (or almost completely?) regarding his plans and positions. This will help us determine our positions and actions toward him.
It should be pointed out that IDF soldiers serving in Hevron, and families of the fallen who have given their lives for the City of Patriarchs, have expressed their total opposition to General Neveh’s attitude and plans.
Hundreds of thousands of Jewish visitors to the Cave of the Patriarchs and the City of our Fathers will ensure that the IDF and the State of Israel will not disengage from this place.
General Naveh is the one who is becoming detached from this place, the heart and soul of the Jewish People, and the source of our rights to this land. "