Peretz, not the army

For whatever miss-guided perverse reasons, Israel's Defense Minister Peretz has declared the most patriotic and idealistic members of Israeli society as enemies.

He thinks that he can retain his position as head of the Labour Party by persecuting the patriots. The Yom Ha'Atzma'ut Return to Chomesh March is an example. First he gave approval, and then at the last minute he rescinded it and ordered the army to block the roads.

Twenty thousand good Jews, of all ages and medical conditions marched through the hills, mountains and Arab villages to get there.

I spoke to a friend who gave me a detailed first-person account.

It was a hard hike. Not all the people were young. Elderly and infirm, some being wheeled, got up. Some of the women were pregnant. It was hot and dry. My friend and family realized that they had to stock up on extra water and that the army would not be helpful. They understood that buses would not be allowed to ferry the marchers back to the nearby yishuvim of Shavei Shomron and Kedumim.

Because they didn't want to hike down through the difficult mountain paths and Arab villages after dark, they left immediately after eating lunch. That was difficult enough.

The people from Shavei Shomron and Kedummim were very helpful in ferrying marchers, since non-residents weren't allowed to Kedumim by Peretz's orders to the army.

Remember that the army takes orders from the politicians, and it's the politicians who must be blamed for the cruelty. Let's make sure that Peretz is retired and not allowed back in public life.

Of course, if every soldier refused orders, that would be something else. But it doesn't seem very likely. We need a very serious and total change in government!

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