Recent Building in Shiloh

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Shiloh is a living, thriving, growing Jewish community, aka small town, in the Biblical tribal Land of Efrayim, though in today's Mateh Binyamin, Benjamin County.  Well over three hundred families live here, Jews of all ages, backgrounds etc.  At the recent Shiloh Conference #2, it was made clear that none of the archeology experts, even the most secular who do their best to find results to contradict the Bible, can deny that Shiloh was a very important city in ancient times.

At the tour of Tel Shiloh, we were told that when Joshua took over (there was no battle/opposition) the Canaanite city of Shiloh, the existing city walls were used as the base for new structures adding storage area etc.  Today, families are adding to their homes.

Once children marry and have children of their own, the old house isn't large enough to house them all for visits, Shabbat, holidays etc.

Younger families are also building homes.

 

 

The homes are different styles and different construction techniques as you most probably notice.  There are few building regulations in Shiloh.  We don't demand red or tile roofs, nor is it required to use stone-facings.

There is such a market for homes here in Shiloh that there are even a couple of multifamily projects. 

This is very convenient, because new instant neighborhoods can be built in convenient locations, and the prices per unit are less than private one-family homes.  Even though housing in Shiloh is less per meter than in the cities and even some of the other yishuvim, it's still a lot for some people.  These apartments are a good housing solution. Besides the fact that not everyone wants to deal with gardens etc.

No matter what you think of Jewish building in Judea and Samaria, you must admit that our homes are much smaller and less ostentatious than the humongous mansions the Arabs are building.

Chodesh Menachem Av Tov!

Jewish versus Arab Building in Judea and Samaria and SOVEREIGNTY

Let's just start with two pictures I took yesterday.

Over the years I've photographed lots of Arab homes, from the distance of the roads, traveling to and from Shiloh.  My "Arab Mansions" series includes some of my all-time most popular/viewed blog posts.  That series is from 2007, and as you can see from the upper photo, the Arabs are getting even more "creative" and grandiose in their building styles than ever before.

Unlike when Jews build, the Arabs don't need all sorts of political and engineering permits; they just build to their heart's desire and pocketbook/bank account.

Displaying a total lack of true sovereignty the State of Israel allows foreign leaders to dictate when and where we build.  A de facto or de jure building freeze is immoral, no matter how you slice it.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been quietly enforcing a de facto building freeze on all construction for Jews in Judea and Samaria and areas in Jerusalem claimed by the Palestinian Authority, Israeli media reported Tuesday.
The Prime Minister promised U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to curtail construction for Jews until mid-June to give PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas time to fulfill his condition for a return to face-to-face negotiations with Israel.
Army Radio reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu told Housing Minister Uri Ariel, who lives in  the Judea and is a senior member of the Jewish Home party, to suspend publishing tenders for 3,000 residential housing units, including those to advance plans and construction of homes in the E-1 area of Maaleh Adumim.

It's a total disgrace and embarrassment that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu doesn't send United States Secretary of State Kerry and others packing as diplomatic sanctions.

The keyword/concept at the memorial event for the late Emanuel Winston was "sovereignty." Israel's totally irrational cancellation of the Lavi fighter plane project was a display of dependence, not sovereignty.  That is the true tragedy of that decision.  It wasn't about airplanes; it was about Israeli military independence and security.  That's what sovereignty is all about.  It's when a country does what's best for itself and doesn't search for approval and support from others.

The Israeli Left's fear of true independence isn't new.  One of the things I understood from the late Benzion Netanyahu's The Founding Fathers of Zionism is that Chaim Weizmann held very anti-Jewish independence views.  After reading that book I couldn't understand why he had been chosen as Israel's President.  According to Professor Netanyahu, Weizmann wanted to make Israel more a dependent of Britain rather than an independent country.

We're still fighting that same ideological/political battle now.  And unfortunately, it's the pro-Weizmann faction that is winning.  (Obviously substitute the USA for Great Britain.)

Why All This Appease aka "Peace" sic Talk?

The politicians are threatening us with more of their faux "peace."

PM: Israel will become bi-national without peace
Olmert hails Arab peace proposal as 'historic opportunity'
Labor: We would join coalition for peace treaty

The Borovsky family is still sitting shiva, in the first week of mourning for Evyatar Borovsky  who was stabbed and shot to death by an Arab terrorist just the other day, and our politicians refuse to understand that it's all these "peace gestures" and agreements which encourage and enable Arab terrorism.

Yesterday I took some American friends who had never been in my neck of the woods, aka the "west bank" sic to visit my daughter in Ofra.  Ofra is about a twenty minute drive north of Jerusalem's "city line."  They had lots of questions and comments. 

First of all when we passed the Jerusalem lightrail, I made sure to explain the route which goes through Arab neighborhoods.  They were pretty surprised when they saw all of the empty land along the way. 

"What about Jews destroying Arab homes to build theirs?"
"It's not true; just look at how empty the land is here.  There is definitely room for all to leave in true peace."

When you're going to Ofra, Shiloh, Eli, or even Sha'ar Binyamin, which is much closer to Jerusalem there is only one tricky junction.  I explained that we must take the "middle road" of the roundabout/traffic circle, even though it may be easy to miss.  If you go to the right, it's ok, you'll go to Adam and just exit and turn right, but if you go to the left, you'll go to Ramallah.

"What's the problem in going to Ramallah?"
"You may be murdered."
"Why?"
"Arabs are encouraged to be angry and justify the murder of Jews, so it's not safe.  On most of the roads here, both Jews and Arabs travel, but there are some only for Arabs.  That's Israeli apartheid."

They noticed the difference in housing.

"What large gorgeous homes there are here.  Who lives in  them?"
"Arabs"
"What?  We always hear that the Arabs are poor and suffering."
"The Arabs don't need permits and building engineer inspections. They build what they want."

As we passed Givat Asaf they asked:

"And what are those poor tiny structures?"
 "Those are cardboard homes, aka caravans.  Jews live there."
"Why should anyone want to live like that?"

And so it went, the questions and my almost incomprehensible answers during the short ride to Ofra.  They discovered that real life here is nothing like the news reports and the politicians' speeches. One of them had been in Israel for a period of months over thirty years ago, and she does remember the days, pre-peace when Jews could visit, shop etc. freely and safely in Arab towns, cities and neighborhoods.

This "peace" the politicians and media are touting only causes more death and destruction for Jews.

Home Improvements--Arab Life

This Arab family, who lives just across the road from Ofra, has just fixed up their house.

I wouldn't mind having my simple home made so nice, even though it's no mansion!

There's more Arab building going on

When Arabs build for themselves, they sure build quickly. I haven't been able to get a reliable reason why such a large percentage --in places like Turmus Aya (the Valley of Shiloh) almost every single structure has been enlarged-- I'm not referring to just adding a room or two. This is more than just nuveau riche excess.

I took these picture yesterday when leaving Beit El. The lighting isn't great, since it was dusk, and the focus won't win prizes. I was in a moving car. At least I took advantage of my front seat perch.

The media lies again!

This was a real easy one.

A reporter/photographer came to Shiloh for philly.com to interview a neighbor from Philadelphia.

I'm not going to argue opinion, but facts are simple.

Standing outside his stucco and red-tile-roofed home in the Shilo settlement, almond trees blooming in the valley below, Philadelphia native Steven "Shimon" Siegel, 49, explained how a boy from Strawberry Mansion found his Eden amid the rocky hills of the West Bank. (complete article)

Nu, now look at the picture of the Siegel's roof.

Do you see "any red tiles?" I don't.

It's so simple. There are tougher lies to catch than this one.

Just remember that you shouldn't trust the media, even on the simple things.

And while you're at it, compare it to the Arab Mansions, my "expose` posts which show how Arabs here really live are finalists in JIBs. If I'm not mistaken they're running both as a series and as best news post.