The Yet, an uphill battle is before us. The mainstream Jewish leadership in chutz la’aretz, specially that of the United States of America, has a fear of speaking up that is reminiscent of the Second World War, when the forbearers of today’s American Jewish leadership presented the same silence just as European Jewry was facing extermination at the hands of the Nazis, יש״ו. Yet, just as then, there are voices today that cry out for what needs to be said. Those voices are our voices. It is up to us to make them heard. And we do have the power to make the message an accomplishing one. Yes, we were ignored during the Gush Katif surrender. We warned about what could happen. It already has. Hamas is on power, and their Iranian sponsor has confessed before all his intentions to kick us into the sea. We have, thus, a greater chance to be heard, to have the public make sense of our message and take heed, than ever before. Let us not be silent. Let last week’s protest not be the end of it, let it be the beginning of a new era. Together we cal change the course of history. G-d is on our side. | . | La manifestación en Washington vino y pasó. Olmert está de vuelta en Israel. Hemos tenido cierto nivel de éxito, y él está ahora echando marcha atrás, disminuyendo la escala de su plan de “convergencia”. Pero aun tenemos por venir una batalla cuesta arriba. El común denominador de la dirigencia judía en juts laarets, especialmente la de los Estados Unidos de América, tiene un temor de hablar que evoca el de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, cuando los antecesores de la dirigencia judía americana de hoy presentaron el mismo silencio mientras la judería europea sufría el exterminio a manos de los nazis, יש״ו. Sin embargo, justo como en aquel entonces, hay voces hoy que gritan a voz en cuello por lo que necesita ser dicho. Esas son nuestras voces. De nosotros depende el hacernos oír. Y tenemos el poder para hacer que el mensaje cumpla su propósito. Sí, fuimos ignorados durante la rendición de Gush Katif. Advertimos sobre lo qué podría suceder. Y así ha sido. Hamás está en el poder, y su patrocinador iraní ha confesado frente a todos sus intenciones de echarnos a patadas al mar. Tenemos, así pues, mayores oportunidades que nunca antes para que seamos oídos, para hacer que el público vea el sentido de nuestro mensaje y nos preste atención. No nos quedemos callados. No dejemos que la protesta de la semana pasada sea el final del asunto, sino más bien el principio de una nueva era. Juntos cambiaremos el curso de la historia. Di-s está de nuestro lado. |
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Jewish brethren: do not sleep on your laurels! / Hermanos judíos: ¡no durmáis en vuestros laureles!
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
MAKING HISTORY IN WASHINTON, DC -- TUESDAY MAY 23, IYYAR 25
בס״ד
A HISTORIC RALLY IN
On May, 2006, Mr. Olmert came to speak before the United States Congress in order to ask for approximately $10,000,000,000 in loan guarantees to implement his plans to force Jews off their land in Judea and
Despite fear from main-stream Jewish organizations, a grass roots effort produced a protest demonstration against the new deportation/ethnic cleansing scheme of
The message was clear: we are not against
Major Jewish organizations boycotted the rally. Particularly noticeable was the Orthodox Union’s expressed opposition to the right of American Jews to ask their elected officials NOT to support the Convergence Plan.
At the end, Olmert left the
The Rally took place at the United States Capitol,
Mail donations to:
B'NAI ELIM
404 HARVEST GATE
LAKE IN THE HILLS,
ILLINOIS
USA
Also visit Bnai Elim’s Website: http://www.bnaielim.org
Buses filled with participants came from various locations in
I was interviewed by Arutz Sheva the morning of the rally. Click here for the interview.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
El defectuoso Pensamiento Olmert / Olmert’s Faulty Thinking
ב ס ״ ד
(Adaptado de una nota mía en el foro de Revavá )
Una conversación en la sección de comentarios de una nota abajo de me hizo ver necesario el exponer la lógica errónea en el pensamiento expresado por Olmert. La lógica de Olmert pobre, y carece de elementos necesarios para un juicio sensato.
Su lógica consiste en la siguientes premisas:
- La población árabe crece a un ritmo más rápido que la población judía
- Israel es una democracia, y por lo tanto quien tenga la mayoría gobernará el país
- La integración con los árabes de los territorios no es posible
- Una vez que los árabes reciban la tierra al lado de la “Cerca de Seguridad”, han de bajar el volumen del odio, ya que estarán ocupados en la construcción de su propio nuevo país
- La solución de los dos estados es la vía correcta a seguir -- puede ser dolorosa, de acuerdo, pero el sacrificio por la paz vale la pena
- Los colonos no son más que un molesto obstáculo en el camino a la paz
- El fin justifica los medios
Creo que todos sabemos que esa es su lógica, y a donde realmente nos conduce. Según esta, él está haciendo “lo correcto”. Eso decir, está procediendo a tornar partes de Eretz Israel en el territorio Judenrein, forzando a los árabes a aceptarlo como el territorio para su nuevo Estado. Hay, sin embargo, algunas premisas que le faltan, y que aparentemente se rehúsa a reconocer:
- El motivo de la existencia de todas organizaciones político/terroristas árabes dentro de Eretz Israel es “liberar Palestina”, un concepto que implica la destrucción de Israel, y el arrojar a todos los judíos en el Gran Mar -- salvo por algunos miembros de Neturei Karta que pagan honorarios, y de los kutim “judíos” de Shjem
- Por muy alto que se construya la cerca, no nos va a proteger jamás de la siempre mejorada tecnología balística en manos de árabes, que cuenta con la asistencia de ingeniería iraní y rusa
- Si de verdad la población árabe continúa creciendo tan rápidamente, pronto los millones de árabes en los sobrepoblados territorios procurarán más espacio. ¡Tomemos el caso dado de la Gaza de hoy, donde se encuentra la mayor concentración del mundo de población por kilómetro cuadrado!
- Si firmando los acuerdos de la paz eran un fracaso probado con el tramposo de Arafat, ¡¿cuánto más aun tendremos garantizada la violencia continua con los sinceros aborrecedores con los que contamos en Hamás?!
- Mientras más tierra damos a los árabes, más ellos se sienten alentados y justificados en su reclamo sobre TODA la Palestina
- Los residentes judíos en los territorios no son, de hecho, un obstáculo para la paz en el ojo árabe -- que define la “paz” como resultado de su victoria final en “la liberación de Palestina” -- sino meramente una primera meta a destruir. Los judíos del Israel del interior de la “Línea Verde” serán seguramente la próxima meta
- Las comunidades judías en Iehudá y el Shomrón son una necesidad, ya que estas afirman la potestad judía sobre la tierra – ciertamente un precepto de la Torá
Mientras la gente siga estancada en la miope y prejuiciosa doctrina de Olmert, sólo podrá vislumbrar la primera sarta de premisas -- y las ha de creer el evangelio de la verdad. Pero cuándo uno se atreva a abrir los ojos al amplio panorama se ha de dar cuenta de los defectos en el Pensamiento Olmert, y el camino a seguir se tornará claro de repente. Entonces el reconocer las premisas que le faltan seguirá de manera naturalmente fluida.
(Adapted from a posting of mine at the Revava forum)
A conversation at the comments section of a posting below lead me to see it necessary to expose an erroneous logic in Olmert’s expressed thinking. Olmert’s logic is faulty, and lacks elements of sound judgment.
His premises are:
- The Arab population is growing at a faster rate than the Jewish population
- Israel is a democracy, and therefore whomever has the majority will rule the country
- Integration with the Arabs of the territories is not a possibility
- Once they're given the land beside the "Security Fence," the Arabs will turn down the hatred volume, as they'll be busy building their own new country
- A two-state solution is the way to go -- it may be painful, OK, but peace is worth the sacrifice
- The settlers are just a bothersome obstacle on the “roadmap” to peace
- The end justifies the means
I think we all know that that is his logic, and where it is truly leading. Within it, he's doing "the right thing." That is, he's proceeding to turn parts of Eretz Yisrael into Judenrein territory, forcing the Arabs to accept that as the territory for their new State. There are, however, a few premises he's missing, and seemingly refuses to acknowledge:
- The reason for the existence of all Arab political/terrorist organizations within Eretz Yisrael is to "liberate Palestine,” a concept which implies the destruction of Israel, and the throwing of all the Jews into the Great Sea -- save for a few fee-paying members of the Neturei Karta, and the "Jewish" Kutim of Shchem
- No matter how tall a fence is built, it will not protect us from the ever-improving ballistic technology in Arabs hands, which is aided by Iranian and Russian engineering
- If, indeed, Arab population continues to swell in numbers, soon millions of Arabs in the over-crowded territories will seek elbow-room. Take the already showing case of Gaza, where the population concentration per square mile is greater than anywhere else in the world!
- If signing peace agreements was a proven failure with sleazy Arafat, how much more will we be assured a continuum of violence with the outspoken, honest hate mongers of Hamas?!
- The more land given to the Arabs, the more they feel encouraged and justified in their claim for the WHOLE of Palestine
- The Jewish residents in the territories are, in fact, not any more an obstacle in the Arab eye -- which defines "peace" as a result of their final victory in the "liberation of Palestine" -- but merely a first goal. The Jews from inside Israel’s "Green Line" will likely be the next goal
- The Jewish communities in Yehuda and the Shomron are a necessity, since they affirm the Jewish possession over the land -- a Torah instruction indeed.
So long as people sit on the biased, narrow-mindedness of the Olmert doctrine, only the first set of premises will be looked at -- and believed as though it was the gospel truth. When one dares open up their mind’s eye to the wider picture, and realizes the faulty thought of Olmert’s premises, the path becomes suddenly clear. Then acknowledging the missing points follows naturally.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM SHLOMO WOLLINS
This is a personal appeal from editor Shlomo Wollins of israelreporter.com.
The current plans of the Israeli government to evacuate between 80,000 and 100,000 Jewish citizens from the Land of Israel require a significant media battle to educate the Jewish world as the immorality and dangers of such a plan. At israelreporter.com, we have been able to participate in and transmit the struggles for the Gush Katif settlements, to bring our audience safely into the coliseum of violence known as Amona via video, photographic, and audio coverage, and to provide hours of video and audio coverage of the illegal evictions from the Hebron shuk in January and the Beit Shapira residence this week. While these events are horrific to experience and sometimes perilious to cover, we consider it a privilege to be serving in this unique and historic role.
You will notice that our website has no advertising or other forms of sponsorship, outside of our audience and readership. We rarely have had to ask for financial assistance to continue our operations, not including the post-amona tragedy and the destruction of our main filming equipment. At this point, we are planning to launch a remarkable new netcast, radio station in the next 30-60 days, with the radio station website now nearly complete. This has been accomplished in the last two months, despite the ongoing journalistic and technical demands of
Bottom-line: we are in need of additional funds to launch the radio website, rebuild israelreporter.com into a full-blown video news website, and commence several other initiatives to work against the Land surrender policies of the current government. Our website information and video/audio data has been and will remain free to our rapidly-growing audience seeking an alternative to bland and nonsensical coverage of the critical issues surrounding Israel's security. We will continue to provide that through israelreporter.com, the new webcast radio station, and several other new media websites in various stages of planning or development.
Bottom-line: we are in need of additional funds to launch the radio website, rebuild israelreporter.com into a full-blown video news website, and commence several other initiatives to work against the Land surrender policies of the current government. Our website information and video/audio data has been and will remain free to our rapidly-growing audience seeking an alternative to bland and nonsensical coverage of the critical issues surrounding Israel's security. We will continue to provide that through israelreporter.com, the new webcast radio station, and several other new media websites in various stages of planning or development.
We absolutely require your help--if you cannot be here and stand with us, the help us afford the necessary tools to conduct an effective media battle. Please take a moment and hit the banner below to support israelreporter.com's development, which can be done either through paypal, or major credit card. We have no raffles, auctions, or prizes to give out--just a complete commitment to our audience to be "in the middle" of any flashpoint for the Land of Israel and to transmit the events via our websites in video/audio/text formats. The first year "birthday" of israelreporter.com passed this last week, and we look back at our first year with pride at our accomplishments and great enthusiasm for the task ahead. Participate in our growth and we will all benefit.
THE PAYMENT WILL TAKE LESS THAN 3 MINUTES, THE INVESTMENT WILL ACCRUE FOR ETERNITY!
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND SUPPORT
Shlomo Wollins
Publisher & Editor
www.israelreporter.com
shlomo@israelreporter.com
054-7388-054 (Israel)
011-972-54-7388-054 (from overseas)
(See donation link on the Israel Reporter's website, box on the righ-hand column of your screen)
The current plans of the Israeli government to evacuate between 80,000 and 100,000 Jewish citizens from the Land of Israel require a significant media battle to educate the Jewish world as the immorality and dangers of such a plan. At israelreporter.com, we have been able to participate in and transmit the struggles for the Gush Katif settlements, to bring our audience safely into the coliseum of violence known as Amona via video, photographic, and audio coverage, and to provide hours of video and audio coverage of the illegal evictions from the Hebron shuk in January and the Beit Shapira residence this week. While these events are horrific to experience and sometimes perilious to cover, we consider it a privilege to be serving in this unique and historic role.
You will notice that our website has no advertising or other forms of sponsorship, outside of our audience and readership. We rarely have had to ask for financial assistance to continue our operations, not including the post-amona tragedy and the destruction of our main filming equipment. At this point, we are planning to launch a remarkable new netcast, radio station in the next 30-60 days, with the radio station website now nearly complete. This has been accomplished in the last two months, despite the ongoing journalistic and technical demands of
Bottom-line: we are in need of additional funds to launch the radio website, rebuild israelreporter.com into a full-blown video news website, and commence several other initiatives to work against the Land surrender policies of the current government. Our website information and video/audio data has been and will remain free to our rapidly-growing audience seeking an alternative to bland and nonsensical coverage of the critical issues surrounding Israel's security. We will continue to provide that through israelreporter.com, the new webcast radio station, and several other new media websites in various stages of planning or development.
We absolutely require your help--if you cannot be here and stand with us, the help us afford the necessary tools to conduct an effective media battle. Please take a moment and hit the banner below to support israelreporter.com's development, which can be done either through paypal, or major credit card. We have no raffles, auctions, or prizes to give out--just a complete commitment to our audience to be "in the middle" of any flashpoint for the Land of Israel and to transmit the events via our websites in video/audio/text formats. The first year "birthday" of israelreporter.com passed this last week, and we look back at our first year with pride at our accomplishments and great enthusiasm for the task ahead. Participate in our growth and we will all benefit israelreporter.com, which has experienced a near doubling of traffic just in the last month. We are now serving over 10 gigabytes of data per day and the sit is receiving thousands of visitors per day, requiring the upgrading of our hosting package.
Bottom-line: we are in need of additional funds to launch the radio website, rebuild israelreporter.com into a full-blown video news website, and commence several other initiatives to work against the Land surrender policies of the current government. Our website information and video/audio data has been and will remain free to our rapidly-growing audience seeking an alternative to bland and nonsensical coverage of the critical issues surrounding Israel's security. We will continue to provide that through israelreporter.com, the new webcast radio station, and several other new media websites in various stages of planning or development.
We absolutely require your help--if you cannot be here and stand with us, the help us afford the necessary tools to conduct an effective media battle. Please take a moment and hit the banner below to support israelreporter.com's development, which can be done either through paypal, or major credit card. We have no raffles, auctions, or prizes to give out--just a complete commitment to our audience to be "in the middle" of any flashpoint for the Land of Israel and to transmit the events via our websites in video/audio/text formats. The first year "birthday" of israelreporter.com passed this last week, and we look back at our first year with pride at our accomplishments and great enthusiasm for the task ahead. Participate in our growth and we will all benefit.
THE PAYMENT WILL TAKE LESS THAN 3 MINUTES, THE INVESTMENT WILL ACCRUE FOR ETERNITY!
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND SUPPORT
Shlomo Wollins
Publisher & Editor
www.israelreporter.com
shlomo@israelreporter.com
054-7388-054 (Israel)
011-972-54-7388-054 (from overseas)
(See donation link on the Israel Reporter's website, box on the righ-hand column of your screen)
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Beit Shapira "vaciada" / Beit Shapira "emptied"
(Versión revisada, después de analizar reportes y fotografías – aun no me he entrevistado con testigos oculares)
The Assault took some three minutes. The assault police succeeded in breaking the entrance iron gate and broke in to take the residents out. Things quickly degenerated into a "cat-and-mouse" game, and the last ones in the resistance opted for hiding. Seemingly there were injuries in both sides. By 10:10 AM there was no resistance left, and the last corner of Beit Shapira has been effectively declared JUDENREIN. There are acts of protest everywhere. Residents expelled: 25 Young protestors: 150 Assault police: 700 Soldiers supporting expulsion from the outside: 1000
- En resumen, esto es lo que se sabe:Tras una noche muy tensa, la guardia de asalto empezó el ataque a la 7:00 AM.El asalto tomó unas tres horas.
- La policía de asalto consiguió romper el portal de hierro de la entrada, y entró a sacar a los residentes.
- Al parecer, hubo heridos en ambas partes.
El asunto degeneró en un juego del "gato y ratón", y las últimos en la resistencia optaron por esconderse. - Para las 10:10 AM, no quedaba resistencia alguna, y el último rincón de Beit Shapira había sido efectivamente declarado JUDENREIN.
- Hay actos de protesta y confrontaciones en todas partes.
- Residentes expulsados: 25
- Jóvenes manifestantes: 150
- Guardia de asalto: 700
- Soldados apoyando desde afuera: 1000
* * *
(Revised version, after analyzing reports and pictures – as of yet I have not yet spoken to eye witnesses)
Por favor seguir este enlace / Please follow up this link
http://orangeprisonersofzion.blogspot.com/
Un nuevo blog ha sido creado para reportar, desde adentro, los acontecimientos en Beit Shapira:
A new blog has been created to report, from the inside, the events in Beit Shapira:
Un nuevo blog ha sido creado para reportar, desde adentro, los acontecimientos en Beit Shapira:
A new blog has been created to report, from the inside, the events in Beit Shapira:
Friday, May 05, 2006
Me acaba de llegar de Shlomo Wallins / I just got this from Shlomo Wallins
Shlomo Wollins es el hombre a cargo del website Israel Reporter (¡ver enlace en mi lista de links!
Esto acaba de llegar:
Este es Shlomo Wollins, reportando desde la Expulsión de Hebrón el 5 de mayo del 2006, a las 18:09 horas, hora de Israel
La situación en Hebrón esta rápidamente tornándose en altamente volátil, y potencialmente violenta. Habiendo pasado dos días en Hebrón dentro del edificio residencial Beit Shapira, y aguardando junto con las familias de residentes por el fallo de la Corte Suprema, y luego de haberme despertado en Hebrón esta mañana esperando filmar la expulsión por la fuerza que había sido anunciada para las once de la mañana, viajé de regreso a nuestras oficinas de Jerusalén para descargar y presentar nuestra cobertura en fotos y video de los eventos hasta la fecha. Dentro de las próximas horas estaremos colgando unas 100 fotografías en formato de video, y unos 10 o más videos, incluyendo cobertura desde el interior de Beit Shapira, y filme de centenares de policías de asalto sosteniendo sus varas y en sus uniformes negros, en formación cerca de la Cueva Funeraria de Hebrón [n. del t.: Marat haMajpelá, el edificio monumental construidos por Herodes encima de la cueva donde yacen las tumbas de los patriarcas Abraham, Isaac y Jacob].He recibido muchísimas consultas por teléfono y correo electrónico sobre mi evaluación sobre de lo que está por ocurrir en esta precaria situación. Hasta esta mañana yo habría previsto una protesta simbólica, en el mejor de los casos, dada la falta de público de protesta y la ausencia de organización alguna por la “lucha” por el edificio. Es importante notar que de las 25 personas que viven en el edificio, unos 20 son niños pequeños, que por seguro no participarían en la susodicha “lucha”. Sin embargo, en las últimas horas, la situación se ha tornado en una que contiene algunos (si bien no otros) de los elementos previos a la confrontación de Amona.La prensa israelí e internacional se está preparando claramente por una demostración de fuerza por parte del gobierno israelí. En mi experiencia he visto que la prensa puede ser por lejos un mejor barómetro de los eventos por acontecer que los anuncios tanto del lado del gobierno como de las comunidades [n. del t. comunidades = residentes de los territorios].
Además, el recientemente juramentado premier Olmer y el vicepremier Peretz estarán procurando una oportunidad para estirar su músculo expulsor y reafirmar el mensaje de Amona, a saber: “vamos a expulsar [a los pobladores judíos] y nada nos va a detener”. Otro factor que ahora se presta a una confrontación violenta potencial consiste en que la residencia se encuentra ahora bajo asedio, y cuenta con un centenar de menores protestando en su interior, y ellos sin duda van a usar su tiempo para planear tácticas para retener a las fuerzas de expulsión. Mirando los videos que vamos a colgar, y tomando un paseo virtual a través de la residencia Beit Shapira susodicha, veréis que, a diferencia de Amona, solo hay una entrada que conduce a una estrecha y empanada escalera de piedra, lo que provee de un punto “ideal” de cuello de botella en el que los manifestantes podrían bloquear la entrada.Dicho todo esto, esto es lo que yo creo que va a pasar: Mientras estoy escribiendo estas líneas, he recibido una llamada de nuestro corresponsal que va a pasar Shabat en Hebrón. Aparentemente, algunos de los niños locales han tratado de acercarse lo suficiente a la policía de asalto como para poder tomarles el número de identidad y el nombre en la chapa de identificación. Justo ahora, uno de ellos fue abofeteado con la parte de atrás de la mano, por haberse acercado demasiado. Creo que va a haber varios centenares de manifestantes tendrán que ser removidos a la fuerza del área, ya que tratarán de asistir a la lucha desde el lado de la calle. Esto incluye manifestantes adolescentes que se quedaron del “lado de afuera” cuando la guardia de asalto clausuró el acceso al edificio en las primeras horas de la tarde. Espero, asimismo, que los manifestantes de adentro creen problemas en los techos, y que probablemente empiecen incendios en el patio o en frente de la entrada, para crear una barrera de fuego tan comúnmente (si bien ineficazmente) usada en tales confrontamientos.
Al final, creo que va a haber violencia, ciertamente significativa, aunque no del nivel de Amona. Esto por un número de motivos, incluyendo el bajo número de manifestantes en Hebrón en comparación al de Amona. Fuentes militares del Israel Reporter han explicado de la manera más clara que el ejército tiene la intención segura de expulsar a las familias [residentes] y a los manifestantes de Beit Aspira. Todas mis observaciones de la situación y mi experiencia en Hebrón el enero pasado me lleva a concluir que nuestra información es precisa. Y, considerando que Hebrón presenta un escenario listo para la prensa, con ajustes de sastre, para que el gobierno de Olmert y Peretz demuestren la nueva actitud israelí para con los “colonos” y sus reclamos residenciales: que evacuen voluntariamente o serán expulsados a golpes. Uno puede solo imaginar a que extremos este gobierno va a ir para destruir la empresa de asentamientos. Por cierto que el amenazante prospecto de colonos muertos no será un obstáculo (aunque la situación presente tiene una posibilidad cerca de cero de llegar a un resultado fatal).Del lado de los residentes, hay varios factores que pueden llevar a una resistencia más fuerte, incluyendo el hecho de que Amona era una destrucción de estructuras, mientras que Beit Shapira se trata simplemente de una expulsión de familias. También, Hebrón es la segunda ciudad sagrada del judaísmo [n. del t. después de Jerusalén] y las expulsiones y acciones policiales en Hebrón tienen tendencia a estar cargadas de emociones. Y, hay un elemento post-Amona de “sacarse los guantes”, o sea que muchos estarán dispuestos a “vengar” el baño de sangre intencional que el Estado patrocinó en Amona.
Las únicas preguntas son: ¿Cuando empezará la expulsión?, y ¿cuanta violencia va a tomar lugar? Mis respuestas son: El domingo, poco después del medio día, y con una violencia significativa, poco debajo del nivel de Amona, pero con una demostración de fuerza relativa a la orden de expulsión (3 familias con niños) de proporciones masivas.
Shlomo Wallins is the man in charge of the Israel Reporter website (see link in my list of links!).
This is just in:
This is Shlomo Wollins reporting on the Hebron Eviction on 5 may 06 @ 18:09 IHT:
The situation is Hebron is rapidly evolving into a highly-volatile and potentially-dangerous situation. After spending two days in Hebron inside the Beit Shapira residence in question and in the area, and waiting with the families for the Supreme Court ruling, and then waking up in Hebron this morning expecting to film the forced eviction with a 11AM deadline, I traveled back to our Jerusalem base to download and present our photo and video coverage of events to date. In the next several hours, we will be posting 100 pictures in a video format, as well as 10 or more videos, including coverage from inside the Beit Shapira house and video of hundreds of baton-wielding, black-uniformed riot police moving in formation near the Burial Cave of Hebron.
I have received numerous inquiries by phone and email as to my assessment of what will occur in this precarious situation. As of this morning, I would have predicted a symbolic protest at best given the lack of any protestor population or organization around the “struggle” for the building. It is important to note that the 25 people living in the building includes nearly 20 children, who will certainly not participate in the “struggle”. However, in the last few hours, the situation has shifted to one that has certain (albeit not others) elements of the pre-Amona clash.
The Israeli and global media are clearly gearing up for a significant show of force by the Israeli government. In my experience, I have found the media to be far better barometers of upcoming events that pronouncements from either the government or community side. In addition, the newly-sworn in PM Olmert and DM Peretz will be looking for an opportunity to flex their evacuation muscle to further the Amona message, which is: “we are going to evacuate and we will stop at nothing.” Another factor that now lends itself to a potentially violent clash is that the house is currently under siege of sorts and has an estimated 100 protesting children inside, who will no doubt utilize their limited time to devise tactics to stall the eviction forces. By looking at videos that we are about to post and taking a virtual walkthrough of the Beit Shapira house in question, you will see that unlike Amona, there is only one entrance that then leads up a very narrow and steep stone staircase, providing an “ideal” bottleneck for protestors to block entrance.
Having said all this, this is what I believe will occur. As I am writing this update, I have received a call from our correspondent spending Shabbat in Hebron. Apparently, some of the local children have been trying to get close enough to copy the ID badge name/numbers of the riot police. Just now, one was punched (in a backslap fashion) for coming too close. I believe there will be several hundred protestors including members of the community that will have to be (and will be) forcibly removed from the area as they will try to assist the struggle from the street side. This includes teenage protestors who were “caught outside” when the riot police flash sealed-off the building in the early afternoon. I would also expect the protestors inside to create problems on the roof as well as potentially igniting fires in the inner courtyard and/or front entrance to make a burning barrier so common (yet so ineffective) in these struggles.
At the end, I expect there to be violence (some quite significant) although not on the level of Amona, for a number of reasons, including the low number of protestors in Hebron as compared with Amona. Israelreporter.com’s military sources have explained in the clearest language that the army has full intention to evacuate the families and protestors from Beit Shapira. My entire survey of the situation and experience in Hebron from January force me to conclude that our information is accurate. And, when you consider that Hebron presents a media-ready, tailor-made stage for Olmert/Peretz to showcase the new-found Israeli attitude on settler housing claims: either evacuate or be beaten. The limits to which this government will go to destroy the settlement enterprise is limited only by ones own imagination, and certainly not limited by the looming and growing prospect of settler deaths (although this situation has near zero chance of a fatal outcome).
On the settler side, there are several factors that might lead to stronger resistance, including the fact that Amona was a building destruction whereas Beit Shapira is a family eviction. Also, Hebron is the second holiest city in Judaism and evacuations and police actions in Hebron have a tendency to be emotionally-charged. And, there is an post-Amona element of “the gloves are off”, meaning that some will fight to “avenge” or “revenge” the intentional state-sponsored bloodbath at Amona.
The only questions are When will the eviction begin? and How much violence will occur? My answers are: Sunday early afternoon and with significant violence at a notch below the Amona-level, but with a show of force relative to the eviction order (3 families with children) of massive proportions.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Shlomo Wollins
Publisher & Editor
www.israelreporter.com
shlomo@israelreporter.com
054-7388-054 (Israel)
011-972-54-7388-054 (from overseas)
Esto acaba de llegar:
Este es Shlomo Wollins, reportando desde la Expulsión de Hebrón el 5 de mayo del 2006, a las 18:09 horas, hora de Israel
La situación en Hebrón esta rápidamente tornándose en altamente volátil, y potencialmente violenta. Habiendo pasado dos días en Hebrón dentro del edificio residencial Beit Shapira, y aguardando junto con las familias de residentes por el fallo de la Corte Suprema, y luego de haberme despertado en Hebrón esta mañana esperando filmar la expulsión por la fuerza que había sido anunciada para las once de la mañana, viajé de regreso a nuestras oficinas de Jerusalén para descargar y presentar nuestra cobertura en fotos y video de los eventos hasta la fecha. Dentro de las próximas horas estaremos colgando unas 100 fotografías en formato de video, y unos 10 o más videos, incluyendo cobertura desde el interior de Beit Shapira, y filme de centenares de policías de asalto sosteniendo sus varas y en sus uniformes negros, en formación cerca de la Cueva Funeraria de Hebrón [n. del t.: Marat haMajpelá, el edificio monumental construidos por Herodes encima de la cueva donde yacen las tumbas de los patriarcas Abraham, Isaac y Jacob].He recibido muchísimas consultas por teléfono y correo electrónico sobre mi evaluación sobre de lo que está por ocurrir en esta precaria situación. Hasta esta mañana yo habría previsto una protesta simbólica, en el mejor de los casos, dada la falta de público de protesta y la ausencia de organización alguna por la “lucha” por el edificio. Es importante notar que de las 25 personas que viven en el edificio, unos 20 son niños pequeños, que por seguro no participarían en la susodicha “lucha”. Sin embargo, en las últimas horas, la situación se ha tornado en una que contiene algunos (si bien no otros) de los elementos previos a la confrontación de Amona.La prensa israelí e internacional se está preparando claramente por una demostración de fuerza por parte del gobierno israelí. En mi experiencia he visto que la prensa puede ser por lejos un mejor barómetro de los eventos por acontecer que los anuncios tanto del lado del gobierno como de las comunidades [n. del t. comunidades = residentes de los territorios].
Además, el recientemente juramentado premier Olmer y el vicepremier Peretz estarán procurando una oportunidad para estirar su músculo expulsor y reafirmar el mensaje de Amona, a saber: “vamos a expulsar [a los pobladores judíos] y nada nos va a detener”. Otro factor que ahora se presta a una confrontación violenta potencial consiste en que la residencia se encuentra ahora bajo asedio, y cuenta con un centenar de menores protestando en su interior, y ellos sin duda van a usar su tiempo para planear tácticas para retener a las fuerzas de expulsión. Mirando los videos que vamos a colgar, y tomando un paseo virtual a través de la residencia Beit Shapira susodicha, veréis que, a diferencia de Amona, solo hay una entrada que conduce a una estrecha y empanada escalera de piedra, lo que provee de un punto “ideal” de cuello de botella en el que los manifestantes podrían bloquear la entrada.Dicho todo esto, esto es lo que yo creo que va a pasar: Mientras estoy escribiendo estas líneas, he recibido una llamada de nuestro corresponsal que va a pasar Shabat en Hebrón. Aparentemente, algunos de los niños locales han tratado de acercarse lo suficiente a la policía de asalto como para poder tomarles el número de identidad y el nombre en la chapa de identificación. Justo ahora, uno de ellos fue abofeteado con la parte de atrás de la mano, por haberse acercado demasiado. Creo que va a haber varios centenares de manifestantes tendrán que ser removidos a la fuerza del área, ya que tratarán de asistir a la lucha desde el lado de la calle. Esto incluye manifestantes adolescentes que se quedaron del “lado de afuera” cuando la guardia de asalto clausuró el acceso al edificio en las primeras horas de la tarde. Espero, asimismo, que los manifestantes de adentro creen problemas en los techos, y que probablemente empiecen incendios en el patio o en frente de la entrada, para crear una barrera de fuego tan comúnmente (si bien ineficazmente) usada en tales confrontamientos.
Al final, creo que va a haber violencia, ciertamente significativa, aunque no del nivel de Amona. Esto por un número de motivos, incluyendo el bajo número de manifestantes en Hebrón en comparación al de Amona. Fuentes militares del Israel Reporter han explicado de la manera más clara que el ejército tiene la intención segura de expulsar a las familias [residentes] y a los manifestantes de Beit Aspira. Todas mis observaciones de la situación y mi experiencia en Hebrón el enero pasado me lleva a concluir que nuestra información es precisa. Y, considerando que Hebrón presenta un escenario listo para la prensa, con ajustes de sastre, para que el gobierno de Olmert y Peretz demuestren la nueva actitud israelí para con los “colonos” y sus reclamos residenciales: que evacuen voluntariamente o serán expulsados a golpes. Uno puede solo imaginar a que extremos este gobierno va a ir para destruir la empresa de asentamientos. Por cierto que el amenazante prospecto de colonos muertos no será un obstáculo (aunque la situación presente tiene una posibilidad cerca de cero de llegar a un resultado fatal).Del lado de los residentes, hay varios factores que pueden llevar a una resistencia más fuerte, incluyendo el hecho de que Amona era una destrucción de estructuras, mientras que Beit Shapira se trata simplemente de una expulsión de familias. También, Hebrón es la segunda ciudad sagrada del judaísmo [n. del t. después de Jerusalén] y las expulsiones y acciones policiales en Hebrón tienen tendencia a estar cargadas de emociones. Y, hay un elemento post-Amona de “sacarse los guantes”, o sea que muchos estarán dispuestos a “vengar” el baño de sangre intencional que el Estado patrocinó en Amona.
Las únicas preguntas son: ¿Cuando empezará la expulsión?, y ¿cuanta violencia va a tomar lugar? Mis respuestas son: El domingo, poco después del medio día, y con una violencia significativa, poco debajo del nivel de Amona, pero con una demostración de fuerza relativa a la orden de expulsión (3 familias con niños) de proporciones masivas.
INFORMACIÓN DE CONTACTO:
Shlomo Wollins
publicador y editor
054-7388-054 (Israel)
+ 972-54-7388-054 (desde el exterior)
* * *
Shlomo Wallins is the man in charge of the Israel Reporter website (see link in my list of links!).
This is just in:
This is Shlomo Wollins reporting on the Hebron Eviction on 5 may 06 @ 18:09 IHT:
The situation is Hebron is rapidly evolving into a highly-volatile and potentially-dangerous situation. After spending two days in Hebron inside the Beit Shapira residence in question and in the area, and waiting with the families for the Supreme Court ruling, and then waking up in Hebron this morning expecting to film the forced eviction with a 11AM deadline, I traveled back to our Jerusalem base to download and present our photo and video coverage of events to date. In the next several hours, we will be posting 100 pictures in a video format, as well as 10 or more videos, including coverage from inside the Beit Shapira house and video of hundreds of baton-wielding, black-uniformed riot police moving in formation near the Burial Cave of Hebron.
I have received numerous inquiries by phone and email as to my assessment of what will occur in this precarious situation. As of this morning, I would have predicted a symbolic protest at best given the lack of any protestor population or organization around the “struggle” for the building. It is important to note that the 25 people living in the building includes nearly 20 children, who will certainly not participate in the “struggle”. However, in the last few hours, the situation has shifted to one that has certain (albeit not others) elements of the pre-Amona clash.
The Israeli and global media are clearly gearing up for a significant show of force by the Israeli government. In my experience, I have found the media to be far better barometers of upcoming events that pronouncements from either the government or community side. In addition, the newly-sworn in PM Olmert and DM Peretz will be looking for an opportunity to flex their evacuation muscle to further the Amona message, which is: “we are going to evacuate and we will stop at nothing.” Another factor that now lends itself to a potentially violent clash is that the house is currently under siege of sorts and has an estimated 100 protesting children inside, who will no doubt utilize their limited time to devise tactics to stall the eviction forces. By looking at videos that we are about to post and taking a virtual walkthrough of the Beit Shapira house in question, you will see that unlike Amona, there is only one entrance that then leads up a very narrow and steep stone staircase, providing an “ideal” bottleneck for protestors to block entrance.
Having said all this, this is what I believe will occur. As I am writing this update, I have received a call from our correspondent spending Shabbat in Hebron. Apparently, some of the local children have been trying to get close enough to copy the ID badge name/numbers of the riot police. Just now, one was punched (in a backslap fashion) for coming too close. I believe there will be several hundred protestors including members of the community that will have to be (and will be) forcibly removed from the area as they will try to assist the struggle from the street side. This includes teenage protestors who were “caught outside” when the riot police flash sealed-off the building in the early afternoon. I would also expect the protestors inside to create problems on the roof as well as potentially igniting fires in the inner courtyard and/or front entrance to make a burning barrier so common (yet so ineffective) in these struggles.
At the end, I expect there to be violence (some quite significant) although not on the level of Amona, for a number of reasons, including the low number of protestors in Hebron as compared with Amona. Israelreporter.com’s military sources have explained in the clearest language that the army has full intention to evacuate the families and protestors from Beit Shapira. My entire survey of the situation and experience in Hebron from January force me to conclude that our information is accurate. And, when you consider that Hebron presents a media-ready, tailor-made stage for Olmert/Peretz to showcase the new-found Israeli attitude on settler housing claims: either evacuate or be beaten. The limits to which this government will go to destroy the settlement enterprise is limited only by ones own imagination, and certainly not limited by the looming and growing prospect of settler deaths (although this situation has near zero chance of a fatal outcome).
On the settler side, there are several factors that might lead to stronger resistance, including the fact that Amona was a building destruction whereas Beit Shapira is a family eviction. Also, Hebron is the second holiest city in Judaism and evacuations and police actions in Hebron have a tendency to be emotionally-charged. And, there is an post-Amona element of “the gloves are off”, meaning that some will fight to “avenge” or “revenge” the intentional state-sponsored bloodbath at Amona.
The only questions are When will the eviction begin? and How much violence will occur? My answers are: Sunday early afternoon and with significant violence at a notch below the Amona-level, but with a show of force relative to the eviction order (3 families with children) of massive proportions.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Shlomo Wollins
Publisher & Editor
www.israelreporter.com
shlomo@israelreporter.com
054-7388-054 (Israel)
011-972-54-7388-054 (from overseas)
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Atención / Stay Tuned
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=102900
Los judíos de Hevrón se preparan para una nueva confrontación. ¿Amona otra vez?
Jews in Hevron embrace for a showdown. Will Amona be repeated?
Los judíos de Hevrón se preparan para una nueva confrontación. ¿Amona otra vez?
Jews in Hevron embrace for a showdown. Will Amona be repeated?
(Photo copyrighted by Ynet News: www.ynet.co.il)
Chequeen esto / check this out:
Monday, May 01, 2006
¿Por qué? / Why?
בס״ד
Muy a menudo la gente pregunta: ¿por qué? No son solo los obviamente ignorantes los que preguntan. Gente que – uno espera – debería saber. Activistas por sheleimus haaretz, talmidei jajamim, gente que conoce las sijot del Rebe como la palma de la mano… Me preguntan: “¿Por qué, Rafael, tanto ahínco en sheleimus haaretz? ¿Qué tanto tienes que ver con los asuntos internos (¡sic!) de Israel?”
Parece mentira que pueda haber gente preguntando tales cosas. Yo les devuelvo la interrogante: ¡¿POR QUÉ?! ¡¿Por qué el silencio?! ¡¿Por qué la indiferencia?! ¡¡¡¿¿¿Quienes somos nosotros para rendirnos o desentendernos???!!!
Defender sheleimus haaretz es defender la integridad del pueblo judío. Es una necesidad vital, indispensable, existencial. Es pikúaj néfesh. Cada vida judía está intrínsicamente conectada a cuatro amot cuadrados de Eretz Israel. El rendir territorios, o siquiera el hablar de hacer tal cosa – explicó el Rebe – pone vidas judías en peligro. No solo en Israel, sino en cualquier parte del mundo.
Frente a un peligro tan claro y presente, guardar silencio sería pecado.
Y a quien pregunte que para que sirve levantar la voz frente a la prepotencia del presente gobierno de Israel, frente a la patética indiferencia del electorado, frente a la confusión y oscuridad que se cierne sobre el mundo… Dijo Rabí Tarfón en el Pirkei Avot (2:16):
לא עליך המלאכה לגמור ולא אתה בן חורין להיבטל ממנה״”
“No recae sobre ti completar la labor, pero no eres libre de desistir de ella”
.
* * *
.
Much often people ask me: Why? It is not only the obviously ignorant that ask. People that – one would hope – should know. Shleimus Haaretz activists, talmidei chachamim, people that know the Rebbe’s sichos like the back of their hand … they ask me: “why, Rafael, so much emphasis in shleimus haaretz? What have you got to do with Israel’s internal (sic!) affairs?”
It is hard to believe that there could be people asking such things. I return the question to them: WHY?! Why the silence?! Why the indifference?! Who are we to give up, to avoid our responsibility???!!!
To defend sheleimus haaretz is to defend the integrity of the Jewish people. It is a vital, indispensable, existential necessity. It is pikuach nefesh. Every Jewish life is intrinsically connected to a four square amos of Eretz Israel. To surrender territories, or even talking about doing such a thing – as the Rebbe explained – puts Jewish lives in danger. Not only in Israel, but anywhere else in the world as well.
Before such a clear and present danger, keeping silent would be a sin.
As for whoever asks what use may be there for raising our voices in front of the abuse of power of Israel’s current administration, in front of the pathetic indifference of the electorate, in front of the confusion and darkness that sets upon the world … Rabbi Tarfon said in Pirkei Avos (2:16):
It is hard to believe that there could be people asking such things. I return the question to them: WHY?! Why the silence?! Why the indifference?! Who are we to give up, to avoid our responsibility???!!!
To defend sheleimus haaretz is to defend the integrity of the Jewish people. It is a vital, indispensable, existential necessity. It is pikuach nefesh. Every Jewish life is intrinsically connected to a four square amos of Eretz Israel. To surrender territories, or even talking about doing such a thing – as the Rebbe explained – puts Jewish lives in danger. Not only in Israel, but anywhere else in the world as well.
Before such a clear and present danger, keeping silent would be a sin.
As for whoever asks what use may be there for raising our voices in front of the abuse of power of Israel’s current administration, in front of the pathetic indifference of the electorate, in front of the confusion and darkness that sets upon the world … Rabbi Tarfon said in Pirkei Avos (2:16):
לא עליך המלאכה לגמור ולא אתה בן חורין להיבטל ממנה״”
“The work is not for you to complete, and you are not free to desist from it”
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