Israel Matzav

Israeli government trying to wipe out 'settlements'

Four months ago, I reported that the government had decided to take weapons away from the revenants in Judea and Samaria. Three weeks ago, I reported that the government had decided to cut security funding for the Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria by a whopping 70%. And just last week, the government agreed to remove some fifty unmanned roadblocks and two manned checkpoints against the advice of its own security services. This morning comes word that the government has taken yet another step in its effort to sever some 300,000 Jews from the State of Israel. It has removed hundreds of weapons (not just decided this time - actually removed) from civilian security personnel who live in Judea and Samaria.

The IDF has taken away hundreds of rifles from communities in the Binyamin region in Samaria, Voice of Israel government radio reported. Members of emergency teams were allowed to retain their weapons, but one Yesha security officer said that the military establishment has refused to authorize weapons for new team members, even though several of them are experienced combat officers. The Defense Ministry has been planning the removal of the weapons for two years but previously backed down in the face of continuing Arab terrorism.

Security officials of the communities expressed concern that they will be left with little defense at the same time that the government has ordered the removal of dozens of roadblocks and blockades designed to restrict travel by Arab terrorists.

Contrary to what you may think, the IDF is not present in significant numbers (if at all) in most of the Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria on a regular basis. The 'emergency teams' are made up of combat veterans who live in the towns and are responsible for being the first to respond when there is - God forbid - a terror attack. By disarming them, the government is now leaving the Jewish cities and towns in Judea and Samaria unarmed exposed to attack. Their thinking is that once there is a major terror attack on a Jewish town - God forbid - it will provide a pretext to 'evacuate' the 'settlers' 'for their own safety.' Recall that the Merkaz HaRav terror attack last month was stopped - too late for eight boys - when a combat veteran who lives nearby and has a weapon at home shot and killed the terrorist. And if the government succeeds in sending the Halamish brothers (who were part of an emergency team) to jail later this week, it will ensure that even those who do have weapons will hesitate to use them.

But what's more important: a few Jewish lives or funding for Shas?

UPDATE 10:30 AM

The JPost is now covering this story and adds the following:

"The weapons were collected for maintenance reasons and are intended to stay in the IDF's hands except for in emergency cases," the army said in response. "There are still weapons in the hands of rapid response teams and those who are licensed to carry arms."

"If need be, weapons will be distributed to graduates of combat units," the army added.

Of course, someone would have to decide that there is an 'emergency' and many Jews would likely be killed - God forbid - until that decision is made.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:30 AM