I love Ha'Aretz, for it always reminds me that most Israelis are victims of their Government and Extremists (currently one and the same), and that most of them oppose the perpetuation of Zionism's expansionist war and cultish drive for 'Greater Israel', and just want to live in peace and coexistence with their Arab brethren.
Sanity now
By Haaretz Editorial
Tags: Israel, terror attack
The lethal bulldozer attack in the center of Jerusalem was a shocking incident by all standards. The overturning of a full city bus, the rescue of an infant on live television, the policewoman who opened fire, hit and paralyzed the bulldozer operator, the mob that threw stones at him and brought him back to murderous life, the shooting by policemen and a civilian, blood, screaming, orphans, bereavement, citizens in a continuously growing line of pain caused by the conflict.
An attack by an Arab who holds a blue [Israeli] identity card, a resident of annexed territories whose people are not citizens but still benefit from the rights that their brethren beyond the wall and roadblocks do not, always stirs various severe reactions. The sense that this is a homegrown enemy shocks us. Hence the proposals for punishment and prevention are more hotheaded than ever.
The Knesset voted yesterday on two bills drafted in response to the shooting attack at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, which was also carried out by a resident of East Jerusalem. The bills, which propose revoking the Israeli citizenship of anyone involved in terrorism and banning Israeli families from setting up mourners tents for relatives who participated in terrorist attacks, passed their preliminary readings. Deputy Attorney General Shai Nitzan held a special meeting on razing the homes of terrorists from Jerusalem. The prime minister added fuel to the fire when he asked to look into revoking the terrorist's family's National Insurance payments.
The response came sooner than expected. The National Insurance Institute director ordered the bulldozer driver's burial grant canceled, even though the law does not require this. The assumption is that someone will legislate this into law. The lack of logic and lack of control have reached such levels that it has already been said that Public Security Minister Avi Dichter will have to forego running for Kadima chair because he failed to cancel the press conference to declare his candidacy, which happened at the same time as the attack.
Once more, the Israeli public responded to a terrorist attack (in this case, the criminal act of an individual) with more insight and moderation than the cabinet and Knesset.
As elections approach, the politicians are displaying an inability to restrain themselves, calm others and show there are security personnel whose job it is to handle such situations, and that they have been doing it quite successfully in recent years.
One would have expected the defense minister to point out that, after a committee of experts evaluated the issue of razing terrorists' homes two years ago and concluded that it constitutes collective punishment, fails to prevent terrorism and may even encourage it, he does not believe there is a reason to destroy the family home of the terrorist from Sur Baher. One could have expected that the policy approved by the General Staff, the Shin Bet and the Defense Minister merely two years ago would not be overturned only in order to impress the public with excessive action, especially at a time when terrorist activity is relatively low.
All these expectations, unfortunately, are not materializing. The family of the terrorist encourages hatred when it argues that the incident was merely a traffic accident that went out of control and ended in their son's murder, while the politicians are competing among themselves to propose the most severe punishment.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/998856.html
After Jerusalem Attack, Olmert Calls for Revival of Home Demolitions
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/402562.html
By Haaretz Editorial
Tags: Israel, terror attack
The lethal bulldozer attack in the center of Jerusalem was a shocking incident by all standards. The overturning of a full city bus, the rescue of an infant on live television, the policewoman who opened fire, hit and paralyzed the bulldozer operator, the mob that threw stones at him and brought him back to murderous life, the shooting by policemen and a civilian, blood, screaming, orphans, bereavement, citizens in a continuously growing line of pain caused by the conflict.
An attack by an Arab who holds a blue [Israeli] identity card, a resident of annexed territories whose people are not citizens but still benefit from the rights that their brethren beyond the wall and roadblocks do not, always stirs various severe reactions. The sense that this is a homegrown enemy shocks us. Hence the proposals for punishment and prevention are more hotheaded than ever.
The Knesset voted yesterday on two bills drafted in response to the shooting attack at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, which was also carried out by a resident of East Jerusalem. The bills, which propose revoking the Israeli citizenship of anyone involved in terrorism and banning Israeli families from setting up mourners tents for relatives who participated in terrorist attacks, passed their preliminary readings. Deputy Attorney General Shai Nitzan held a special meeting on razing the homes of terrorists from Jerusalem. The prime minister added fuel to the fire when he asked to look into revoking the terrorist's family's National Insurance payments.
The response came sooner than expected. The National Insurance Institute director ordered the bulldozer driver's burial grant canceled, even though the law does not require this. The assumption is that someone will legislate this into law. The lack of logic and lack of control have reached such levels that it has already been said that Public Security Minister Avi Dichter will have to forego running for Kadima chair because he failed to cancel the press conference to declare his candidacy, which happened at the same time as the attack.
Once more, the Israeli public responded to a terrorist attack (in this case, the criminal act of an individual) with more insight and moderation than the cabinet and Knesset.
As elections approach, the politicians are displaying an inability to restrain themselves, calm others and show there are security personnel whose job it is to handle such situations, and that they have been doing it quite successfully in recent years.
One would have expected the defense minister to point out that, after a committee of experts evaluated the issue of razing terrorists' homes two years ago and concluded that it constitutes collective punishment, fails to prevent terrorism and may even encourage it, he does not believe there is a reason to destroy the family home of the terrorist from Sur Baher. One could have expected that the policy approved by the General Staff, the Shin Bet and the Defense Minister merely two years ago would not be overturned only in order to impress the public with excessive action, especially at a time when terrorist activity is relatively low.
All these expectations, unfortunately, are not materializing. The family of the terrorist encourages hatred when it argues that the incident was merely a traffic accident that went out of control and ended in their son's murder, while the politicians are competing among themselves to propose the most severe punishment.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/998856.html After Jerusalem Attack, Olmert Calls for Revival of Home Demolitions
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/402562.html
