Israel Matzav

Shavei Shomron unhappy with its Shabbat guest

On Thursday, it was announced that Hagai Amir, the brother of Rabin assassin Yigal Amir, who was released from prison on Friday morning, would spend the Sabbath at an unnamed Jewish community in Samaria. Of course, it was inevitable that the identity of the community would get out, and now the residents of Shavei Shomron are out protesting against their Sabbath guest.

Residents hung signs around the town against Amir's visit, reading, "thou shall not kill," and "murder is not our way." A resident of the community expressed disapproval of Amir's intention to visit the settlement, saying "we dissociate ourselves entirely from this visit and of course we completely dissociate ourselves from anything linked to Rabin's murder," Channel Ten reported.

"This is a completely private visit that people do not view favorably. We have no way to prevent it, but we are not pleased about it," he added.

Channel Ten quoted another resident as saying, "we would willingly pass on this visitor. This man is not welcome in this town, and would do well not to be here."

The Shavei Shomron residents were among many others bristling at Amir's release on Friday. Meretz activists and other demonstrators waited outside the prison gate in protest of his release. They held signs saying "price tag 4.11.95" and called to Amir and his family, "we won't forget and we won't forgive those who incited and murdered."

Anyone in Shavei Shomron is especially asked to comment.

Labels: Yigal Amir, Yitzchak Rabin

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:47 PM