IDF Against Jews in Chomesh

Just when it looked like Chomesh's Jewish community could begin relaxing and go on with re-developing, davka this Shabbat, a few days before Rosh Hashannah, the army spent its time removing/evacuating/exiling them from their homes.

In a similar rationale, but without any proof whatsoever, to the security forces' reasoning why Jews can't go to Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount), the army claims that Jews at Chomesh are "at risk."

The Israeli army is called Tzva Haganah L'Yisrael, Tzaha"l, Israel Defense Forces, IDF. What kind of defense are they offering peaceful Jews?

Strength of Convictions

I'm glad that there are families who have found ways to return to Chomesh. See the pictures! They are like the pioneering Zionists of a very earlier generation, the parents, grandparents, great-grandparents of those who established the legendary "moshavot" and kibbutzim. Today those moshavot are major Israeli cities. And today, the descendants of those earlier pioneers are in the forefront of the Israeli Left and oppose the simple civil rights of Jews to live in Judea and Samaria.

There's an interesting opinion article in Haaretz, worth reading.

Photos from Chomesh, 12-6-07, by Yoni

Thousands march to Homesh vowing to eventually rebuild settlement

Thousands of rightists arrive in Homesh
Thousands of settlers and right-wing activists arrived at the evacuated West Bank settlement of Homesh on Tuesday. The trip was authorized by the army, and security forces accompanied the activists to the site. ...Full story

Evicted settlers shun Homesh march over request for IDF okay
Homesh First: It's sacrilegious to ask IDF's permission to hold march after being evicted by army in 2005. 05:55

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 First he gave approval, and then at the last minute he rescinded it and ordered the army to block the roads.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!

from Passover visit

59th Independence Day--the Highs and Lows

Yes, everyday has its ups and downs, but yesterday's Yom HaAtzmaut certainly had some contrasts.

The high was the well over ten thousand patriotic Jews who defied the army's political decision to ban Jewish entry to Chomesh. Remember that Israeli governments will come and go, but Eretz Yisrael will always be ours.

The low was the attack by over a thousand Arabs against some innocent picnicking Jews near Haifa. Tying for "top low" is the Hamas rocket attack on Israel, which our army ignored.

And the "winner" for most disappointing:
Degel Hatorah close to joining coalition