Dismantling a ‘Trailer Park’

Scene from the Amona evacuation  (NBC)

All those who think that Netanyahu is all about settlements have to explain why he is so quick to dismantle the trailer park settlement of Amona ordered by the high court. 

Last time that was tried, the right wing settler movement of the Religious Zionists went  berserk over it. The resistance begat a strong response from the Israeli riot police. That turned bloody and violent. It was not a pretty picture. 

To the right that event represented police brutality. To the left it represented the violent lengths the messianist religious Zionist Jews will go to retain the land they occupied.

While I do not condone police brutality in any form, neither do I condone violent resistance to the law. Had those settlers left peacefully as the law required, all would have been well. 

They will counter by saying that they listen a higher Authority – God Himself, who by His word requires His people to settle all the land of Israel. They are entitled to their opinion. But they are not entitled to endanger lives because of it based on one interpretation of this Halalcah when there are other legitimate ones. Like the one I subscribe to. Which is the Charedi interpretation that holds land may be given up for genuine peace. And therefore violent resistance to a legal eviction is against Halacha. If settler activity brings about bloodshed then that activity should stop.

They did not listen then. And much as I had hoped things would be different this time, they are not. It appears that their messianic views about retaining all the land of Israel is once again begetting violence. From the Jerusalem Post:

 More than 15 security forces were wounded during clashes and a police source said least some of the officers sustained injuries from a chemical substance thrown at them by protesters.

A spokesman from Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem, three police officers were being treated for their wounds, including two with moderately wounded from liquid thrown at their eyes.

Ahead of the long-awaited eviction of the illegal outpost, settlers poured oil on the main road leading to Amona to make it difficult for security forces to reach them…
 Earlier, activists had set fire to tires in an attempt to block any security forces from entering…

Additionally, the Post witnessed another woman injured on the floor being treated by paramedics. The woman's child is being cared for by another woman…

A spokesman from Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem, three police officers were being treated for their wounds, including two with moderately wounded from liquid thrown at their eyes.

Ahead of the long-awaited eviction of the illegal outpost, settlers poured oil on the main road leading to Amona to make it difficult for security forces to reach them. ..
Earlier, activists had set fire to tires in an attempt to block any security forces from entering… 

I might have had some sympathy for these settlers had they left peacefully as required by law. Or even if they had protested peacefully since peaceful protest is a fundamental right in a democracy like Israel. As I said they have a right to their beliefs. After all Israel originally encouraged settlements back in 1967. That said - I'm hard pressed to believe that these settlers feel double crossed. That policy had long ago been reversed. But even if they felt that way, violent resistance to the law should not be tolerated whether it is rock throwers in Meah Shearim or in Amona.

I support Netanyahu on this. He could have easily said ‘wait a minute!’ With a settlement supporting American administration in office now, why not loudly protest the high court decision and back the settlers? And even promote more such settlements like that in the future? Surely the Trump administration will back him up as will the Orthodox supporters of these settlers (as reflected by the editorial policy of newspapers like the Jewish Press)? Netanyahu could even better secure his governing coalition by pandering that way to its right wing members?

I think what we are seeing is a policy I have referred to in the past. One that I believe Netayahu supports: That of eventually annexing Maale Adumim and other large city-like border settlements in a final comprehensive peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians that would give them the West Bank. That is after all what Oslo originally called for. To that extent he supports and has permitted building activity those border settlement blocs.

I believe that the Trump administration would agree with – and support that policy, too. That Palestinian Authority wants Israel to give up what their founder and late leader Yassir Arafat already agreed to in principle is something that we should at least understand as a legitimate starting point for negotiations. Under Obama and the mostly leftist government leaders of Europe (where antisemitism is fomented by an increasing Muslim population) Israel was denied that starting point – as per the Palestinian narrative. Under Trump, it is a lot more likely the US will give Israel that.

As for Amona - it’s too bad that saner heads have not prevailed there today. If they had we could have avoided the violence.