Despite his many shortcomings, his leadership during
Israel’s war with Hamas has changed the face of the Middle East for the better.
Whether one agrees with the way he achieved that or not, this crucial fact
cannot be dismissed as irrelevant. It is arguably the most significant
achievement by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967.
That being said, there is one aspect of the prime minister’s
policy that could undermine all of his great accomplishments: his tolerance of extremist settlers. This has led to some of the most
disturbing news coming out of the Jewish state in recent memory.
The idea that all of Judea and Samaria belong to the Jewish
people - as promised to us by God - is, from a religious standpoint, undeniable.
But what can and what should be disputed is the way the current
Israeli government is allowing that idea to be implemented: by expanding
settlements near Palestinian villages. While there is a religious mandate to
reclaim our land, there is also an absolute obligation to do so in a way that
does not destroy us as a people.
Instead, the current policies encourage fanatical ideologues
to set up illegal outposts near Palestinian villages with the goal of pushing
Palestinians out and reclaiming that land for Jews. I have no doubt that the
prime minister does not condone illegal settlements. But he hasn’t done nearly enough to stop
them. And that inaction has led to numerous violent clashes between extremist
settlers and Palestinians. Some of which have ended with settlers killing
Palestinian villagers.
As I’ve said in the past, it is entirely possible that some
of these killings occurred during altercations in which the settler may have
believed they were acting in self-defense. But that does not make it
acceptable. The fact that these extremists purposely set up makeshift ‘settlements’
near Palestinian villages and strut around with Uzis slung over their shoulders
to taunt the villagers is an exercise in pure evil. They do not value human
life. They see all Palestinians as ‘dogs’ to be chased from the land as quickly
as possible. And when Palestinians push back, someone ends up dead. Usually a
Palestinian.
None of this is to excuse the hatred that many Palestinian
villagers harbor toward Jews. They most certainly do hate us, and if given the
chance, they would rid the region of all Jews. But that does not justify the
brutal way these Jewish extremists try to reclaim the land. Resorting to
intimidation, provocation, and even murder when necessary.
The most recent incident is particularly horrifying. While
details about who initiated the latest clash are murky, one fact appears to be
clear: a 20-year-old unarmed American citizen of Palestinian descent was beaten
to death by extremist settlers. Settlers whose outpost near the village in
question was illegal from the start.
They should never have been allowed to set up that outpost -
let alone terrorize the Palestinian villagers in their efforts to forcibly
remove them. These settlers were not fulfilling the mitzvah of reclaiming Eretz
Yisroel; they were committing a travesty. One that affects not only their fellow
Jews in Israel but Jews across the globe.
When the most pro-Israel, pro-settler U.S. ambassador in
history calls this a murder committed by settlers - and the most pro-Israel
president both call for a full investigation, you know this wasn’t simply a
matter of self-defense.
I was glad to read that six settlers were arrested by Israeli security forces in connection with this incident. If they are found guilty, they should
spend the rest of their miserable lives in prison.
Sadly, this is not the first time extremist settler violence
against Palestinians has turned deadly. Some of these attacks were so-called ‘revenge’
attacks in response to Palestinian terror that killed a Jew. Extremist settlers
randomly attacked innocent villagers. As if murdering innocent people is a
justified response. That is not justice. That is sickness.
None of this should ever have happened. The idea of allowing
- or simply turning a blind eye - when extremists decide to ‘reclaim’ land with
deadly intimidation towards Palestinian residents - is morally repugnant. And
this is where the prime minister bears responsibility.
I don’t believe he condones what happened to that
20-year-old. But he has allowed an environment in which such violence can - and
does - happen. There should be a zero-tolerance policy for illegal settlements.
These outposts should be closely monitored and dismantled as soon as they’re
detected. Long before they can encroach upon Palestinian villages. The settlers
who build them should be arrested and imprisoned for a very long time.
If members of his right-wing coalition protest, so be it.
Israel’s morality and ethics must never be dictated by its extremist
politicians. Even if it means losing coalition partners. Aside from the moral
obscenity of these attacks, the damage these extremists do to Israel’s global
standing is incalculable. They give fuel to those who accuse Israel of
apartheid and provide moral ammunition to the BDS movement. It also makes
accusations of genocide seem more plausible to the casual observer!
This is not the first time I’ve expressed my outrage over
these disgraceful so-called ‘devout Jews’. I only hope it is the last. I pray
that those who beat this young American receive the maximum punishment allowed
by law and are held up as examples of what will happen to anyone who attempts
to seize land through intimidation and violence.
The prime minister must make it unequivocally clear that
such behavior will no longer be tolerated. To demonstrate this seriousness, he
should halt the establishment of any new settlements in Judea and Samaria until
a proper legal and moral framework is in place.
Israel already has more than enough challenges. We do not
need these extremists creating indefensible incidents. Incidents that even the
most ardent supporters of the Jewish state, like myself, cannot defend.
