And They Call Ben Gvir An Extremist

Yom Chamishee

Thursday

7 Elul 5783

August 24 2023

The Absolutely Correct Quote of the Day

“Where there is no army, there are no Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. And where we did not strengthen those communities, we got terrorism.” 

Yoav Galant, Israel Defense Minister, speaking to leaders of the Council for Judea and Samaria yesterday.

Galant is obviously right, but your humble servant does not know to what degree he was speaking from the heart or dissembling to his audience.

There was a time when we thought that Galant would be a strong Defense Minister who wholeheartedly supported Jewish life in Judea and Samaria.

After his continuous battles over the last 8 months with Finance Minister/Deputy Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich, we are not so sure.

In those battles, Galant has sought to maintain control over the Civil Administration and has pursued (albeit on a smaller scale) destruction of fledgling Jewish communities. Also, his continued use of administrative detentions for Jews in Judea and Samaria has been appalling.

 The News on the Israeli Street

The war in Judea and Samaria.

Shooting, Molotov, “rock”, and IED attacks are now happening every morning, noon, and night. It is simply miraculous that more Israelis are not being killed or wounded—and it should come as no surprise when they are.

Shooting attacks in the last 24 hours:

Palestinian terrorists fired at an Israeli shepherd near Elkana in Samaria. The Israeli was not wounded; the terrorists escaped.

Palestinian terrorists fired at IDF forces in Shechem.

Palestinian terrorists fired at IDF forces at Tulkarm.

Palestinian terrorists fired at IDF troops around Qalqilya. 

Palestinian terrorists fired at IDF forces in and around Jenin..

Palestinian terrorists fired at IDF forces at Aqbat Jericho.

“Rock”, IED, and Molotov attacks:

Palestinian terrorists attacked Israelis between Hermesh and Shevi Shomron, on Road 60 near Luban al-Sharqiya, on the Gush Etzion-Hevron Road, and at numerous places on Road 60 in Samaria.

The Israeli judicial system run amok, again . . .

In yet another bizarre ruling yesterday, the police and prosecutor dismissed charges against a Palestinian man who tried to drown a 6-year-old Israeli boy at the Ein Mabua spring near Jericho.

One week ago, the boy and his family were at the spring. The Palestinian who was sitting on the edge of the spring grabbed the boy from behind and tried to force his head under water.

The boy fought to stay above water until the boy’s aunt saw what was happening and screamed at the attacker to stop. Finally, the attacker let go–and the boy’s family went to the security booth to report what happened.

It turned out that there was video of the entire event recorded by a security camera at the spring. The mother commented to the police several days ago:  “In the video from the security cameras, you can see how the attacker grabs my son and tries to drown him. The nationalist motive here is clear. We hope that the attacker will be punished with all the severity of the law.”

Instead the police and prosecutor dropped the case entirely.

Can you believe it?

 

TODAY’S BLOG

And They Call Ben Gvir An Extremist

“My children’s, my wife’s, and my right to travel the roads of Judea and Samaria without being killed is more important that the Palestinian’s right to move. Sorry Muhammad, but this is the reality, this is the truth, our right to life comes before your right to movement.”

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel Minister of National Security speaking yesterday.

Believe it or not, Ben Gvir is being roundly excoriated today for this comment–by everyone in the mainstream Israeli media and everyone on the Israeli ‘left’.

Because, after all, they believe that Israelis in Judea and Samaria have no human rights–especially the right to life.

Ben Gvir is also being attacked this morning for getting the Cabinet to approve yesterday the use of Shin Bet to go after the rampant crime taking place in the Israeli-Arab sector of society.

In the past week alone, two Israeli-Arab candidates for political office were murdered. In one of those attacks, not only was the candidate killed but also 3 members of his family were shot to death as well.

Last month, Ben Gvir sought approval for the use of Shin Bet, but the idea was rejected by Israel’s abominable attorney general. Since then, five of the six Israeli-Arab crime family leaders that Ben Gvir wanted to target have committed murders.

And they call Ben Gvir an extremist.