Tuesday 20 December 2011

IDF soldiers: Problem in West Bank isn't Palestinians, it's Jews


An article by Gili Cohen in the Israeli daily paper, Haaretz, reveals how more and more nasty incursions are made on Palestinians AND even on the Israeli Defense Force by wayward Jewish settlers in the West Bank.  Unchecked  hooliganism has become the order of the day, it seems, and forces a re-definition of ‘terrorism’. 

IDF soldiers: Problem in West Bank isn't Palestinians, it's Jews

'Our purpose there is to protect the Jews, but they generate many of the problems. It's very confusing,' says combat soldier discharged last year.

By Gili Cohen    Published 16.12.11

Recent attacks by right-wing extremists on Israel Defense Forces soldiers in the West Bank are just one manifestation of the violence to which many have been subjected during their service in recent years. Both regular and reserve soldiers, including junior officers, spoke about the complicated situation they find themselves in: having to protect the settlers while at the same time being attacked by them.
"Our purpose there is to protect the Jews, but they generate many of the problems. It's very confusing," said Nadav Bigelman, a combat soldier who was discharged last year…….

The situation in the West Bank has turned upside down, he said. "We used to have a code for Palestinians throwing stones. Today it's been reversed to indicate Jews are throwing stones at Palestinians."
Bigelman, today a researcher for the Breaking the Silence organization, served in Hebron in 2008. At the time he kept a "Hebron diary" documenting settlers' violent activities, from stone throwing to cursing Palestinians, tourists and left-wing activists. One day a settler attacked his battalion commander during an argument and tore his epaulets off............

 Read more at:  http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/idf-soldiers-problem-in-west-bank-isn-t-palestinains-it-s-jews-1.401683

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