Good news: Machsom Watch banned from Nablus area checkpoints
The IDF has declared the checkpoints around Nablus and their immediate vicinities closed military zones. The effect is to ban Machsom Watch from harassing the soldiers at the checkpoints.The IDF on Wednesday banned Israeli civilians from entering checkpoints around Nablus, in a move aimed at ending the presence of Israeli left-wing activists at the sites, who the army says have interfered with soldiers tasked with carrying out security checks.Let's take a look at a video from Machsom Watch's web site and you can decide whether this 'lady' is trying to harass the soldiers (you won't see her face). This video was filmed at the Beit Furik checkpoint, which is one of the checkpoints affected by today's order, and it was taken in 2008. The blond female soldier you will see in the video (with bulletproof vest and an extra bulletproof covering for her throat) is mostly likely 18-20 years old. Her 'commander' might be 22-23. The Machsom Watch 'activist' is likely an adult. I'll let you judge for yourselves whether the 'activist' is trying to harass the soldiers and prevent them from doing their jobs.
The move has been slammed as a violation of the Geneva Convention by the Israeli organization Mahsom (Checkpoint) Watch, which is comprised of 400 women volunteers who regularly travel to the checkpoints.
OC Central Command chief Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni signed a degree on Wednesday turning the checkpoints of Ma'aravim, Hawara, Awarta and Beit Furik, all situated around Nablus, into closed military zones, and off limits to Israeli civilians.
"In Nablus, the situation has become intolerable," an IDF source told The Jerusalem Post. "The soldiers are unable to proceed with their duties because of interruptions."
The army source stressed that the decrees will apply to all Israelis "irrespective of ideology," adding that security was the central consideration behind the move.
But Raiya Yaron, Spokeswoman of Machsom Watch, told the Post that members of her organization "do not come to the checkpoints to provoke the soldiers."
Let's go to the videotape.
This would never have happened with Ehud Olmert in power. As some of you may recall, Olmert's daughter Dana is a member of Machsom Watch.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:06 PM
3 Comments:
Wow. Amazing. From personal experience, not only do soldiers at the checkpoints despise these busybodies - but even the Civil Administration soldiers cannot stand them. Their constant calling the C.A. to non-complaints has caused them to become a running joke among C.A. soldiers.
The Israeli extreme Left is upset it can no longer interfere in the IDF's operations? Maybe they can take that up with Obama.
Heh
Since when does "Ufi mi poh" translate to "Get the f*ck out of here"?
"Get out of here" would have sufficed, but, of course, that would not have portrayed the soldiers in the worst possible light.
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