It’s time for an international force in the West Bank

[azurnoir]

The settlers, blindsided by the fact the incident was actually covered, came up with several arguments. They claimed (a) that the fire was started by the Palestinians; that (b) observant Jews won’t light fires on Saturday, and that (c) the raiders were in fact the settlement’s squad of guardsmen.

Dismantling these lies is important in order to expose the settlers’ culture of deceit. As Haggai wrote, an earlier video shows the settlers coming down the hill, and at the time there is no sign of fire. The main video shows the fire very near to the village, and a Palestinian fire-fighting truck. We are, then, asked to believe that as the settlers were coming down, some Palestinians crossed their way and lit a fire behind them. A likely story. If you buy it, I have a seaside house in Jerusalem going for very reasonable rates.

The second lie is easily disproved. Raids by Yitzhar settlers are rather common, particularly on Saturday, as the holy flock is infused with the “extra soul” of the holy day and dies of boredom. Just a year ago, the settlers of Yitzhar were documented (Hebrew) raiding Asira Al-Qibiliya, stoning the residents, and setting a vehicle on fire. Among the pogromchiks was also Yitzhak Shapira, the head of the Yitzhar yeshiva, who is a co-author of the infamous “Torat Ha’Melekh” tract, the manual on gentile-slaying. The settlers said at the time that you can break the sanctity of the Sabbath if you are in conflict with non-Jews. How… convenient. They probably did not think that someone will remember this excuse a year later, and that it’ll come back to bite their latest lie.

As for the third lie: I served in the territories, and I’ve never seen a rapid deployment squad with only three armed men, one of them brandishing a pistol. And just what is the squad doing outside the settlement? Going AWOL?


http://972mag.com/its-time-for-an-international-force-in-the-west-bank/46461/

[Scurrilous]

1. K & R

[shira]

2. Sure. They worked out so well in the Sinai and in Lebanon. n/t

[Alamuti Lotus]

4. Happy Stopped Clock Syndrome Day!!

How often do we find ourselves on the relatively same side of an issue?

[Alamuti Lotus]

3. no, if anything it's time for a National force in the WB

I'm usually against nationalisms, but here's an exception. To guard against the colonists' armed gangs the WB needs a Palestinian national force that is actually tasked with protecting the Palestinian population--the PA's one and only job (and performed badly) is to safeguard the occupation apparatus, with no jurisdiction against these armed settler gangs. The occupation forces lift perfunctory, at their PR best, fingers against these settler gangs--the PA (joke) or Hamas should be free to defend Palestinian people against these crazed invader fanatics.
I never trust international forces of so-called peacekeepers to really accomplish anything except enforcing the status quo--my enemy everywhere, as a general rule.

[Kurska]

5. Civil war. Hooray! n/t

[Alamuti Lotus]

6. what?!

The basic premise of the original subject is settler gangs running amok; reason being, nobody with any authority over their criminal activities; proposed solution is for local (erstwhile puppet) government to assume aforementioned authority. What does "civil war" have to do with anything mentioned? Do you think Israelis will fight the government if the settler gangs are reigned in? Having trouble following your vague reply.

[PavePusher]

7. Perhaps Germany could step up and provide a peace-keeping force.

I'd say it should be a national obligation for them.