PHOTO: Why is a Border Policeman shaking hands with a masked settler?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://972mag.com/why-is-a-border-policeman-shaking-hands-with-a-masked-settler/67027/

The photo below was taken by an Israeli Ta’ayush activist on Saturday March 2 at 10:30a.m, in Umm al Amad, a Palestinian village in the South Hebron Hills close to the Otniel settlement. Shepherds from the village were trying to graze their sheep when according to the activist, Border Police officers showed up and simply expelled them. Masked settlers then came around to join in the intimidation and harassment. They were not questioned by the security forces or asked to identify themselves, but rather made nice.

---

Why is a Border Police officer shaking hands with a citizen whose face is covered? And more importantly, why is that settler’s face covered in the first place?

A picture is worth a thousands words. In this specific case, the single snapshot captures daily reality in the West Bank. As I have reported many times in the past, Palestinian farmers in the South Hebron Hills are often prevented from grazing their cattle or accessing their water cisterns not only because of settler intimidation, harassment and violence, but also due to IDF collusion and at times active enagement by the IDF and Border Police in preventing Palestinians from accessing their lands and going about their lives.

[oberliner]

1. And the 972mag rolls on ...

Here's the bio from this writer: I am an independent writer, translator and editor, originally from NYC. I am interested in the role Israel plays in Jewish identity and American politics and wrote my MA thesis on the changing definition of “pro-Israelism” in American Jewry.

Imagine: I am an independent writer, translator and editor, originally from NYC. I am interested in the role Palestine plays in Muslim identity and American politics and wrote my MA thesis on the changing definition of “pro-Palestinian” among American Muslims.

But alas, no such bio exists. At least not among articles being posted by the dozens here.

As I asked another poster:

Let's say there was a site that was devoted exclusively to posting articles and op-eds that present Palestinians in a negative light. Not only the Palestinian leadership, but also general incidents of bad behavior of Palestinian groups and individuals. All of the articles were accurate - nothing was made up - but that was the website's entire focus. And let's say about a half dozen of these articles were re-posted here on DU every single day. How would you feel about that?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

4. And alas, the gnashing of the teeths, renting of garments and oh noes

by Oberliner continues in his/her never ending crusade to silence 972mag.

Why don't you just go to meta and demand all I/P articles be approved by you first before being allowed to see the light of day?

In that way you could post more articles about Israeli beauty queens.


I'm sure they could all use a good laugh.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

8. Why don't you come right out and accuse me of what you believe my agenda is.

Don't be shy.

[holdencaufield]

2. "why is that settler’s face covered in the first place?"

Burn victim?

Cosplay enthusiast?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

3. Terrorist?

[holdencaufield]

7. Or Ninja -- you decide.

Personally, I never use the word terrorist to describe either side because it's not technically accurate. No one is terrorized by them.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

9. "No one is terrorized by them."

Who is them?

[holdencaufield]

11. No one is terrorized by terrorists

The entire point of terrorist tactics is to "terrorize" the general civilian population into complying the terrorist agenda. People literally would be too scared to go about their daily business out of fear of terrorists.

I know you don't know much about Israel but if you did you'd know that "terrorist tactics" don't terrorize Israelis. The day after a suicide bombing the buses and markets are full. People go about their daily business, albeit with enhanced security. So, the apparent goal of terrorism -- incapacitating the civilian population with fear -- is totally ineffective.

The same was true of IRA "Terrorists" from the '70s and '80s -- yes, their acts were barbarous -- but they didn't achieve their goal of terrorizing the population. As a tactic of war, it's totally ineffective.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

13. "The entire point of terrorist tactics is to "terrorize" the general civilian population"

I'd say that Israel and its illegal settlers have done a pretty good job at doing just that to the Palestinian population.

State sponsored.

[holdencaufield]

14. I know YOU would

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

17. You know I would what, holden?

Would you care to be specific as to this matter?

[holdencaufield]

19. Short term memory loss?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

21. Goodnight, holden. You can waste somebody else's time now.

[Violet_Crumble]

27. 'Personally, I never use the word terrorist to describe either side'

'This kind of encapsulates ...... the mind-blowing stupidity of a terrorist group picking a fight with a modern army.'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=22548

I guess what you said should have read 'Personally, I only use the word terrorist to describe one side only'. As for 'no one is terrorized by them', of course Palestinians civilians are terrorised by extremist settler attacks on them.

[Scootaloo]

30. I don't expect Zionists to hold themselves to any standards.

At least, not the creepy bargain-bin volunteer zionists that lurch around here. professional Zionists like Holden's idols Hikind, Ben-Ari, and Hagee, the high-class guys, they solve the problem by simply not having any standards to hold thmselves to.

[King_David]

31. Yes these "Zionists"

Creepy Zionists at that !

[Violet_Crumble]

32. Of course there'd be some Zionists who are creepy. Why wouldn't there be?

I think every group, whether it's a group with the same political ideology or another group, all have a few creepy ones in their midst...

[King_David]

33. "creepy bargain-bin volunteer zionists that lurch around here"

Us creepy "Zionists "

[Violet_Crumble]

34. And yr point? n/t

[King_David]

35. I think it was made ,

Some people have a problem with "creepy bargain-bin volunteer zionists that lurch around here"

[Violet_Crumble]

36. Uh-huh...

They'd be the same people who don't give a shit when nasty things get said about pro-Palestinian DUers. That's called Karma...

btw, feel free to jump in anytime and give yr opinions on the Border Police and their friendship with extremist settlers. No need to be shy!

[King_David]

37. Oh I know my opinion is sought everywhere on DU

But I can't be everywhere .

Was that a Derfner piece ?

[Violet_Crumble]

38. Not really, so if anyone's telling you that, don't believe them...

Try reading the OP. If you scroll right up to the top of yr browser, you'll get there under yr own steam and then you'll be able to see who wrote it!! Enjoy!

And because I'm in a helpful mood tonight, not only am I giving you a link so you can read the article that started this thread, but I'm even going to tell you who wrote it - Mairav Zonszein

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113433699

I figure the abuse of Palestinians by extremist settlers isn't considered something important enough to talk about, but there's some DUers who do

[Scootaloo]

39. Ever heard the term "Weeaboo?"

It's one of them thar newfangled internet words derived from a 4chan word filter. Basically it amounts to "A deluded and possibly deeply disturbed person who believes that Japan is superior in all ways, shapes, and forms, and should be exalted above all other nations, usually on the basis of having watched too much American-English dubbed anime"

There's a more disturbing and even frightening variant called a "wolfaboo" that is so garish, so pants-shittingly unnerving, that I would not even try to explain it to someone I dislike for fear of unleashing a lovecraftian horror upon them.

I see you guys sort of like that.

[King_David]

40. Whatever but I don't find bigotry funny

and most people including Martin Luther King , Obama etc etc etc consider anti-Zionist a form of the worst kind of bigotry.

[Scootaloo]

42. There you go again

Though rather than appeal to popularity, you're trying to use an appeal to authority this time. And not even accurately, either.

Not even able to mount a defense of your own philosophical garbage. That's pathetic.

[oberliner]

5. To the 972magger, every Israeli behavior is suspect and sinister

They always assume the worst.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

10. The photo below was taken by an Israeli Ta’ayush activist on Saturday March 2 at 10:30a.m,

in Umm al Amad, a Palestinian village in the South Hebron Hills close to the Otniel settlement. Shepherds from the village were trying to graze their sheep when according to the activist, Border Police officers showed up and simply expelled them. Masked settlers then came around to join in the intimidation and harassment. They were not questioned by the security forces or asked to identify themselves, but rather made nice.

http://972mag.com/why-is-a-border-policeman-shaking-hands-with-a-masked-settler/67027/


On edit: I am truly glad that you, and I mean you Oberliner, turned me on to 972mag. If you hadn't complained so much about it I might not have found it for a few more months.

When somebody complains so much about a news source that is critical of Israel you just know that these writers have the bull by the horns.

Thanks again, O.

[holdencaufield]

12. "They were not questioned by the security forces or asked to identify themselves"

And you know this how?

Because 972 Mag says it's so?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

16. 972 must really be hitting a nerve if this is the best you can come back with.

Burn victim?

Cosplay enthusiast?

Ninjas?


Yes, holden, intimidation and harassment of Palestinians, then making jokes about it, is such a hoot. So goes the narrative to distract from the article.


BTW: Thank oberliner for turning me on to 972 when you get the chance.

[holdencaufield]

20. Yes ...

... the folks down that the Protocols Headquarters are in quite a bother over 972 Mag and it's dozens of readers.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

22. 972 must be for you to continue to hand wring over it.

[azurnoir]

23. The "972magger(s)" are Israeli

the way they are carried on about by some here reminds me of the way Progressives in this x country where carried on about after 9/11 and in the run up to and early days of the Iraq war 2001-2005

[Violet_Crumble]

26. Easy answer. - they don't want to be identified...

Cowardly piece of crap, and a terrorist to boot!

[broiles]

15. Just watched 5 broken cameras,

I the Israelis want a 3 intifada so they have an excuse to retaliate.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

18. If one looks at the responses that this post has elicited they would soon realize

that there is no want to discuss the topic of I/P but rather bury it as quickly as possible with one-liners and clucking of tongues.

[Israeli]

24. Israeli Left wing web sites :

" The "972magger(s)" are Israeli "

Thanks for pointing that out .

You dont like 972 then may I suggest you try : http://www.kibush.co.il/

Also by Israelis and also in English .

[Rhiannon12866]

25. Very interesting!

Thank you and welcome to DU! It's great have you with us!

[Violet_Crumble]

28. Thanks for the link. I'm bookmarking that one n/t

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

41. Thank you. I will check it out.

And again, welcome.

[Violet_Crumble]

29. Video shows Border Police abusing Palestinian man

Officers seen abusing what appears to be mentally disabled man in 2009 video presented as evidence in trial against 4 officers.

Border police abuse what appears to be a mentally disabled Palestinian man, in a video that was presented as evidence on Thursday in an trial against four officers.

In the video, which was shot in 2009 next to the al- Jib checkpoint north of Jerusalem, the officers yell at the Palestinian man, “Where’s your identity card?” and shout at him that the police dog next to him will bite him if he doesn’t answer.

The man, who was detained for not having an ID card on him, was sitting in the back of a Border Police jeep during the incident.

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=300920