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Dear Friends of Arutz Sheva
Every year at this time, Arutz Sheva takes upon itself the funding
of the Passover seder for the Ethiopian Jewish community in Yaffo.
south Tel Aviv.We understand that this is the largest seder in Israel, and has been over the years, a momentous occasion for our Ethiopian Jews, in so many ways.
This year, over fourteen hundred Jews are expected to attend, G-d willing.
We take this opportunity of asking you to participate by way of a monetary gift.
In the event that you would like to support this effort with us, then kindly e - mail me at. Jonathan@arutzsheva.org or click here
We shall need your telephone numbers, so please include these, I shall ensure that one of our staff here at Arutz Sheva call you within a few hours to collect your gift.
With thanks.
חג פסח כשר ושמח
Happy Pesach
Yonatan Boofty
Arutz Sheva
Bet El
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1. Arab Axe Attack on Jew in Old City
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
An Arab terrorist attacked an elderly Jew with an axe in the area of the Damascus Gate Monday morning. The victim, age 59, suffered light wounds and is being treated at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. He was returning from morning prayers at the Western Wall and strugggled with the terrorist, who escaped.
Police have been deployed in a massive manhunt for the Arab.
Attacks on Jews have escalated in the past several months since the Palestinian Authority decided to bury the “diplomatic process” and then failed in its bid to win international recognition from the United Nations.
Last week, Arabs hurled rocks at Jews travelling through an Arab area to the Western Wall. One man was evacuated to Hadassah Hospital with severe bruises.
The previous day, two young Arabs attacked a soldier, who suffered light wounds. Two weeks ago, an Arab from the Beit Hanina neighborhood stabbed a Jewish soldier on the Jerusalem light rail system.
The day before, two young Arabs attacked an IDF soldier, who was lightly wounded and was evacuated for medical treatment at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.
Two weeks ago, an Arab from the Beit Hanina neighborhood stabbed a woman soldier on the Jerusalem light rail system. She was treated for moderate injuries, and the terrorist later was arrested.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
An Arab terrorist attacked an elderly Jew with an axe in the area of the Damascus Gate Monday morning. The victim, age 59, suffered light wounds and is being treated at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. He was returning from morning prayers at the Western Wall and strugggled with the terrorist, who escaped.
Police have been deployed in a massive manhunt for the Arab.
Attacks on Jews have escalated in the past several months since the Palestinian Authority decided to bury the “diplomatic process” and then failed in its bid to win international recognition from the United Nations.
Last week, Arabs hurled rocks at Jews travelling through an Arab area to the Western Wall. One man was evacuated to Hadassah Hospital with severe bruises.
The previous day, two young Arabs attacked a soldier, who suffered light wounds. Two weeks ago, an Arab from the Beit Hanina neighborhood stabbed a Jewish soldier on the Jerusalem light rail system.
The day before, two young Arabs attacked an IDF soldier, who was lightly wounded and was evacuated for medical treatment at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.
Two weeks ago, an Arab from the Beit Hanina neighborhood stabbed a woman soldier on the Jerusalem light rail system. She was treated for moderate injuries, and the terrorist later was arrested.
Tags: Arab attackers ,Western Wall ,Kotel
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2. Time to 'Go Medieval' on the Terrorists, Says MK
by Gil Ronen
MK Danny Danon (Likud) said Monday that recent incitement by Fatah's Marwan Barghouti is responsible for the axe attack in Jerusalem this morning.
"Barghouti's incitement calling for rampaging Arab terror has reached the capital of Israel," Danon stated. "The nightmare of Arab pillaging has become a daily reality. The axe attack in the center of Jerusalem is a case right out of the Middle Ages."
"All Arabs who engage in terror need to be put back in their own Middle Ages and be locked up in a solitary cell with Marwan Barghouti, who incites to terror and is responsible for the attack. We must lift the axe of justice over the neck of rampant Arab terror before it is too late."
Barghouti was placed in solitary confinement Sunday after he illegally released a press statement from his jail cell in which he called for violence against Israel. A cell phone was also found in his belongings.
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
MK Danny Danon (Likud) said Monday that recent incitement by Fatah's Marwan Barghouti is responsible for the axe attack in Jerusalem this morning.
"Barghouti's incitement calling for rampaging Arab terror has reached the capital of Israel," Danon stated. "The nightmare of Arab pillaging has become a daily reality. The axe attack in the center of Jerusalem is a case right out of the Middle Ages."
"All Arabs who engage in terror need to be put back in their own Middle Ages and be locked up in a solitary cell with Marwan Barghouti, who incites to terror and is responsible for the attack. We must lift the axe of justice over the neck of rampant Arab terror before it is too late."
Barghouti was placed in solitary confinement Sunday after he illegally released a press statement from his jail cell in which he called for violence against Israel. A cell phone was also found in his belongings.
More on this topic
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3. False Alarms Send Israel on War Alert
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
False alarms sounded sirens in southern and northern Israel around noon Monday, causing children to run for shelters and soldiers to pack gear. The IDF spokesman immediately announced that malfunctions, and not incoming rockets and missiles, were the source for the sirens to wail.
Until the explanation was heard nationwide, adults and children panicked as sirens sounded for up to three minutes, far longer than the 20-second early warning siren for incoming rockets.
In the north, there were fears that a Third Lebanon War was underway. In the south, where residents are used to Color Red warnings of incoming rockets, children began to scatter to shelters.
Police were swamped with frantic calls. At least one man was seen loading up his car with army gear for an expected call-up.
The Air Force apparently responded immediately to the sirens, causing one woman to tell Arutz Sheva Radio’s Tamar Yonah, “We have the biggest display of IAF overhead I've ever heard. There is a rumbling to the south – can't remember hearing that before; maybe just planes flying in another direction. No explosions heard.”
The woman, named Laura, continued, “This may have gone on over us to Ashdod or heaven forbid, South Tel Aviv. The kids are out for Pesach vacation – poor little kids; none of us need this. But I'm sharing this now, to try to keep the scary feelings from backing up.... Please pray for us in Ashkelon..."
“There may be a call-up. The man across the street is loading his car with army gear and leaving.”
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
False alarms sounded sirens in southern and northern Israel around noon Monday, causing children to run for shelters and soldiers to pack gear. The IDF spokesman immediately announced that malfunctions, and not incoming rockets and missiles, were the source for the sirens to wail.
Until the explanation was heard nationwide, adults and children panicked as sirens sounded for up to three minutes, far longer than the 20-second early warning siren for incoming rockets.
In the north, there were fears that a Third Lebanon War was underway. In the south, where residents are used to Color Red warnings of incoming rockets, children began to scatter to shelters.
Police were swamped with frantic calls. At least one man was seen loading up his car with army gear for an expected call-up.
The Air Force apparently responded immediately to the sirens, causing one woman to tell Arutz Sheva Radio’s Tamar Yonah, “We have the biggest display of IAF overhead I've ever heard. There is a rumbling to the south – can't remember hearing that before; maybe just planes flying in another direction. No explosions heard.”
The woman, named Laura, continued, “This may have gone on over us to Ashdod or heaven forbid, South Tel Aviv. The kids are out for Pesach vacation – poor little kids; none of us need this. But I'm sharing this now, to try to keep the scary feelings from backing up.... Please pray for us in Ashkelon..."
“There may be a call-up. The man across the street is loading his car with army gear and leaving.”
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4. Hevron Arabs Stage Home Purchase Claim
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
A large force of soldiers and police Sunday night moved dozens of Hevron Arabs out of a residential building next to the Jewish community and which they claimed they had bought, days after Jews presented a deed of purchase of an Arab home.
The Arab squatters refused IDF and police orders to leave, and security officers ringed the building before forcing their way in and removing them. Four Arabs were arrested for violent resistance.
The squatters were protesting last week’s purchase of an Arab home across from the Patriarchs’ Cave. The purchasers were careful to make sure that the sale was legal, and the IDF, after declaring the purchase a “provocation,” later said that the property transaction was according to the law.
The purchase by Jews of the building expands the Jewish presence in the city, one of our in the country that are deemed :holy,” the others being Jerusalem, Tiberias and Tzfat.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
A large force of soldiers and police Sunday night moved dozens of Hevron Arabs out of a residential building next to the Jewish community and which they claimed they had bought, days after Jews presented a deed of purchase of an Arab home.
The Arab squatters refused IDF and police orders to leave, and security officers ringed the building before forcing their way in and removing them. Four Arabs were arrested for violent resistance.
The squatters were protesting last week’s purchase of an Arab home across from the Patriarchs’ Cave. The purchasers were careful to make sure that the sale was legal, and the IDF, after declaring the purchase a “provocation,” later said that the property transaction was according to the law.
The purchase by Jews of the building expands the Jewish presence in the city, one of our in the country that are deemed :holy,” the others being Jerusalem, Tiberias and Tzfat.
More on this topic
-
Edelstein: Sale of Hevron Home to Jews Undoubtedly Legal -
Activist: Netanyahu Must Choose a Side
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MK Uri Ariel Calls on Gov't to Rescue Arab Seller in Hevron
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Rabbi Dov Lior: Beit HaMachpela in Hevron Legally Purchased
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Jews Move Into House Near Cave of Patriarchs
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Video: Jewish Survival Greatest Miracle in History
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5. 'Jerusalem is Jewish,' Say Protestors in New York
by Fern Sidman
Over 40 demonstrators representing such organizations as Americans For a Safe Israel (AFSI) and the Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam (HRCARI) gathered at the Israeli Consulate in New York City Friday to express their outrage over the intended "Global March on Jerusalem" – an effort by Islamic states and their proxies to delegitimize Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish State.
Original reports indicated that close to two million Arabs and international pro-Palestinian apologists would storm Israel's borders from all sides and infiltrate Jerusalem in order to protest the purported "Judaization" of the city. Taking the threat seriously, Israel put a large amount of reserve military forces on alert for possible call-up, but the numbers of rioters were far less than anticipated. Thousands gathered at protest sites in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and areas of Judea and Samaria. As rock-throwing mobs of protestors attempted to breach the security fence separating Gaza and southern Israel, clashes with Israeli troops ensued.
"We are incensed about the fact that there has to be some contest over Jerusalem", declared Helen Freedman, executive director of AFSI. "The Arabs are outraged over the "Judaization" of Jerusalem and that is simply preposterous. Jerusalem was declared as the capital of the Jewish people thousands of years ago by King David and it has always been a holy city steeped in Jewish values, law and culture," she continued.
Addressing the international refusal to condemn the "Global March on Jerusalem", Freedman said, "Clearly, this menacing march is being sponsored by Hamas and Hizbullah, who are proxies of Iran, and the world sits in abject silence. President Obama's pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, has gone on record supporting this and Obama has not uttered a word of admonishment. The United States Department of State has never officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's official capital and they too must be taken to task."
Holding aloft signs saying, "Jihadi Goal: De-Judaize Jerusalem, then de-Americanize America", along with Israeli flags and the flags of the city of Jerusalem, the demonstrators chanted, "Jerusalem is Jewish" and "America: Are you In or Out?"
"We are here to vociferously condemn this scandalous and dastardly march on Jerusalem and to show complete support to Israel, as the one and only Jewish state," said Dr. Marvin Belsky, chairman of HRCARI. Surrounded by a cadre of Hindu and Indian supporters of Israel, Dr. Belsky said, "For centuries, there has always been a Jewish presence in Jerusalem and Israel has the absolute right to publicly and boldly declare that Jerusalem is its eternal, undivided capital."
Also present at the demonstration was long time Jewish activist Glenn Richter, the former chairman of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, and Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, outspoken supporter of Jewish causes and CUNY trustee.
Comment on this story
by Fern Sidman
Over 40 demonstrators representing such organizations as Americans For a Safe Israel (AFSI) and the Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam (HRCARI) gathered at the Israeli Consulate in New York City Friday to express their outrage over the intended "Global March on Jerusalem" – an effort by Islamic states and their proxies to delegitimize Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish State.
Original reports indicated that close to two million Arabs and international pro-Palestinian apologists would storm Israel's borders from all sides and infiltrate Jerusalem in order to protest the purported "Judaization" of the city. Taking the threat seriously, Israel put a large amount of reserve military forces on alert for possible call-up, but the numbers of rioters were far less than anticipated. Thousands gathered at protest sites in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and areas of Judea and Samaria. As rock-throwing mobs of protestors attempted to breach the security fence separating Gaza and southern Israel, clashes with Israeli troops ensued.
"We are incensed about the fact that there has to be some contest over Jerusalem", declared Helen Freedman, executive director of AFSI. "The Arabs are outraged over the "Judaization" of Jerusalem and that is simply preposterous. Jerusalem was declared as the capital of the Jewish people thousands of years ago by King David and it has always been a holy city steeped in Jewish values, law and culture," she continued.
Addressing the international refusal to condemn the "Global March on Jerusalem", Freedman said, "Clearly, this menacing march is being sponsored by Hamas and Hizbullah, who are proxies of Iran, and the world sits in abject silence. President Obama's pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, has gone on record supporting this and Obama has not uttered a word of admonishment. The United States Department of State has never officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's official capital and they too must be taken to task."
Holding aloft signs saying, "Jihadi Goal: De-Judaize Jerusalem, then de-Americanize America", along with Israeli flags and the flags of the city of Jerusalem, the demonstrators chanted, "Jerusalem is Jewish" and "America: Are you In or Out?"
"We are here to vociferously condemn this scandalous and dastardly march on Jerusalem and to show complete support to Israel, as the one and only Jewish state," said Dr. Marvin Belsky, chairman of HRCARI. Surrounded by a cadre of Hindu and Indian supporters of Israel, Dr. Belsky said, "For centuries, there has always been a Jewish presence in Jerusalem and Israel has the absolute right to publicly and boldly declare that Jerusalem is its eternal, undivided capital."
Also present at the demonstration was long time Jewish activist Glenn Richter, the former chairman of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, and Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, outspoken supporter of Jewish causes and CUNY trustee.
Tags: AFSI ,Land Day ,American Jews
More on this topic
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6. High Court's Hypocrisy on Migron Exposed
by Gil Ronen
A column by Maariv's Kalman Libeskind exposes the hypocrisy behind the High Court decision that scuttled a compromise deal regarding the community of Migron and ruled the residents must be evicted by August 1.
President Judge Asher Grunis and Judge Mirian Naor, who sat on the three-judge panel that made the decision, spoke loftily of the need to respect earlier court decisions to evict Migron's residents without dawdling. However, they themselves allowed the eviction of Bedouins who illegally seized land to wait for over 22 years.
"Now the petitioners are entitled to enjoy the fruits of the verdict," the judges wrote regarding Migron – in a reference to petitioners who never proved they had owned the land. "They have the right to see the ongoing disruption of their rights end. The public interest in enforcement of the law must also be felt, as must the rule of law and respect for the law."
"The duty of carrying out a verdict is not a matter of choice," the judges continued, driving in their point. "This is a vital part of the rule of law that we are all subordinate to as part of the state of Israel's values as a Jewish and democratic state."
In the early 80's, writes Libeskind, Bedouins from two clans entered territory near the Yerucham-Dimona Highway and illegally occupied it. The state tried unsuccessfully to evict them, time after time. In 1990, the Israel Lands Authority sued the heads of 82 families and demanded that they leave the territory. The deliberations took six years due to what the court termed the "sensitivity" of the matter. In 1996, the court determined that the land belongs to the state and that the Bedouins have no claim to it.
Moreover, the court found that the Bedouins had lied when they said that their families had occupied the land for generations. The judge gave them six months to take out all of their belongings from the area. They appealed and lost, in 1998. They then appealed to the High Court, and lost there too. However, the High Court took its time with the case and did not publish its verdict until 2007 – 17 years after the process had begun.
"We did not rush to remove this request from our schedule, and it remained open before this court in various panels for many years – perhaps too many – in which we agreed time and time again to requests for postponements," the judges wrote. "All this was done out of an intent to reach an agreed solution."
Two of the judges on that panel were Judges Grunis and Naor.
Shortly after the High Court decision in 2007, writes Libeskind, a special committee on the Bedouin land problem headed by retired judge Eliezer Goldberg heard the Bedouins' case "and its tender and merciful heart was broken." It recommended letting them stay on the land. "22 years after the start of those procedures, the Authority for Legalization of the Bedouin Settlements is negotiating with those lawbreakers, who now number some 3,000 souls and are spread out on an area of several thousand dunams, with the purpose of setting up their permanent community for them."
"So you there, in the High Court, do me one favor please," writes the journalist. "Don't give me that hogwash about the rule of law and the need to uphold verdicts. As you wrote in your verdict – ' 'the hour of truth has come.' So the truth is – everything is politics. And that includes everything."
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
A column by Maariv's Kalman Libeskind exposes the hypocrisy behind the High Court decision that scuttled a compromise deal regarding the community of Migron and ruled the residents must be evicted by August 1.
President Judge Asher Grunis and Judge Mirian Naor, who sat on the three-judge panel that made the decision, spoke loftily of the need to respect earlier court decisions to evict Migron's residents without dawdling. However, they themselves allowed the eviction of Bedouins who illegally seized land to wait for over 22 years.
"Now the petitioners are entitled to enjoy the fruits of the verdict," the judges wrote regarding Migron – in a reference to petitioners who never proved they had owned the land. "They have the right to see the ongoing disruption of their rights end. The public interest in enforcement of the law must also be felt, as must the rule of law and respect for the law."
"The duty of carrying out a verdict is not a matter of choice," the judges continued, driving in their point. "This is a vital part of the rule of law that we are all subordinate to as part of the state of Israel's values as a Jewish and democratic state."
In the early 80's, writes Libeskind, Bedouins from two clans entered territory near the Yerucham-Dimona Highway and illegally occupied it. The state tried unsuccessfully to evict them, time after time. In 1990, the Israel Lands Authority sued the heads of 82 families and demanded that they leave the territory. The deliberations took six years due to what the court termed the "sensitivity" of the matter. In 1996, the court determined that the land belongs to the state and that the Bedouins have no claim to it.
Moreover, the court found that the Bedouins had lied when they said that their families had occupied the land for generations. The judge gave them six months to take out all of their belongings from the area. They appealed and lost, in 1998. They then appealed to the High Court, and lost there too. However, the High Court took its time with the case and did not publish its verdict until 2007 – 17 years after the process had begun.
"We did not rush to remove this request from our schedule, and it remained open before this court in various panels for many years – perhaps too many – in which we agreed time and time again to requests for postponements," the judges wrote. "All this was done out of an intent to reach an agreed solution."
Two of the judges on that panel were Judges Grunis and Naor.
Shortly after the High Court decision in 2007, writes Libeskind, a special committee on the Bedouin land problem headed by retired judge Eliezer Goldberg heard the Bedouins' case "and its tender and merciful heart was broken." It recommended letting them stay on the land. "22 years after the start of those procedures, the Authority for Legalization of the Bedouin Settlements is negotiating with those lawbreakers, who now number some 3,000 souls and are spread out on an area of several thousand dunams, with the purpose of setting up their permanent community for them."
"So you there, in the High Court, do me one favor please," writes the journalist. "Don't give me that hogwash about the rule of law and the need to uphold verdicts. As you wrote in your verdict – ' 'the hour of truth has come.' So the truth is – everything is politics. And that includes everything."
Tags: Kalman Libeskind ,Migron ,Asher Grunis
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7. Helen Thomas Honored at PLO Event in Washington
by Rachel Hirshfeld
The High Commission for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington honored American journalist and anti-Semite, Helen Thomas, according to a report in the Arabic Palestine Press Agency reported, translated by the Elder of Ziyyon blog.
Thomas, the daughter of Lebanese immigrants, exposed her anti-Semitic prejudices in June of 2010 when she stated that Jews “should get the hell out of Palestine.”
“They [should] go home. Poland. Germany. And America and everywhere else,” she said.
In an interview in October of that year, she stood by her original statements and accused “them” -- an apparent reference to Zionists – of distorting her remarks “for their own propaganda purposes,” Arutz Sheva reported.
Thomas was presented with an award, recognizing her career in journalism and writing, at the home of Ambassador Maen Rashid Ereikat, President of the Commission General of the PLO in Washington.
The ceremony was attended by a group of ambassadors, diplomats, journalists, “human rights” activists and American Arab leaders in the United States.
Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of the PLO, also participated in the event and presented Thomas with a medal of recognition, on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas.
Ashrawi relayed Abbas’ gratitude for all that Thomas has done in support of the ‘Palestinian’ cause.
Following Thomas’ anti-Semitic remarks in 2010, Wayne State University, her alma mater, pulled an award in her name, affirming that, “the university strongly condemns the anti-Semitic remarks made by Helen Thomas.”
Comment on this story
by Rachel Hirshfeld
The High Commission for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington honored American journalist and anti-Semite, Helen Thomas, according to a report in the Arabic Palestine Press Agency reported, translated by the Elder of Ziyyon blog.
Thomas, the daughter of Lebanese immigrants, exposed her anti-Semitic prejudices in June of 2010 when she stated that Jews “should get the hell out of Palestine.”
“They [should] go home. Poland. Germany. And America and everywhere else,” she said.
In an interview in October of that year, she stood by her original statements and accused “them” -- an apparent reference to Zionists – of distorting her remarks “for their own propaganda purposes,” Arutz Sheva reported.
Thomas was presented with an award, recognizing her career in journalism and writing, at the home of Ambassador Maen Rashid Ereikat, President of the Commission General of the PLO in Washington.
The ceremony was attended by a group of ambassadors, diplomats, journalists, “human rights” activists and American Arab leaders in the United States.
Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of the PLO, also participated in the event and presented Thomas with a medal of recognition, on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas.
Ashrawi relayed Abbas’ gratitude for all that Thomas has done in support of the ‘Palestinian’ cause.
Following Thomas’ anti-Semitic remarks in 2010, Wayne State University, her alma mater, pulled an award in her name, affirming that, “the university strongly condemns the anti-Semitic remarks made by Helen Thomas.”
Tags: Jews ,PLO ,Helen Thomas
More on this topic
Comment on this story
8. Shomron Residents Hold Second Protest Against Dangerous Road
by Elad Benari
For the second time in three days, residents of the northwestern Shomron Jewish community of Avnei Hefetz demonstrated on Sunday against the removal of a roadblock which prevented residents of the neighboring Arab village of Shufa from crossing the highway.
The residents last protested the removal of the blockade on Thursday, and Sunday’s demonstration was held after the community’s secretariat decided to demonstrate every day until the road is once again closed to Arabs, or alternatively a different road is opened to Jewish residents.
The residents blocked traffic on the road for about an hour without any resistance from IDF soldiers stationed nearby. A local youth representative told Arutz Sheva that residents plan to be on the road every day and hold afternoon prayers and a daily Torah lesson.
During the demonstration, the head of the Shomron Regional Council, Gershon Mesika, said, “This road has known shooting attacks in the past. If the security situation is so good, why not open the other traffic arteries to Jewish traffic?”
Mesika added, “Opening the road to Arabs makes it easier for them to ‘mistakenly’ enter Avnei Hefetz.”
Tzvi Dardik from the secretariat of Avnei Hefetz said during last week’s demonstration, “The IDF decided to remove the barrier despite having promised not to do so until the road is adjusted to accommodate the large masses of residents of Shechem who will travel through it. We once again warn that if no changes are made, including widening the road and adding lighting - the road will become a death trap. The road is not built to accommodate the great mass of Arabs who will pass through if the barrier comes down.
The opening of the road near Avnei Hefetz comes after another road between Beit Furik and Elon Moreh was opened to Arabs for the first time in 12 years last week.
The road, which is known as the Madison Route, connects to the Samaria Brigade base, passes through the entrance to Itamar and ends at the community of Elon Moreh.
The road was closed to vehicles with the onset of the Second Intifada, also known as the Oslo War, in 2000. Since then, the IDF has prohibited Arab residents of the area to drive through the road, after terrorists carried out a number of shooting attacks directed against Israeli vehicles.
On Wednesday, residents of Elon Moreh protested against the opening of Madison Route and prevented Arabs from passing through.
Elon Moreh resident Davidi Ben-Zion told Arutz Sheva on Sunday that “the road was opened to Arab traffic following the demand of extreme left-wing activists and Palestinians. The IDF surrendered easily.”
He added, “This is a very difficult period in terms of security. Only recently there have been several attempts to infiltrate the community.”
The IDF said in response that “traffic on the roads is determined by assessing the situation and by security concerns. The IDF is operating to ensure a proper fabric of life for all residents of the area while taking the required security measures.”
Comment on this story
by Elad Benari
For the second time in three days, residents of the northwestern Shomron Jewish community of Avnei Hefetz demonstrated on Sunday against the removal of a roadblock which prevented residents of the neighboring Arab village of Shufa from crossing the highway.
The residents last protested the removal of the blockade on Thursday, and Sunday’s demonstration was held after the community’s secretariat decided to demonstrate every day until the road is once again closed to Arabs, or alternatively a different road is opened to Jewish residents.
The residents blocked traffic on the road for about an hour without any resistance from IDF soldiers stationed nearby. A local youth representative told Arutz Sheva that residents plan to be on the road every day and hold afternoon prayers and a daily Torah lesson.
During the demonstration, the head of the Shomron Regional Council, Gershon Mesika, said, “This road has known shooting attacks in the past. If the security situation is so good, why not open the other traffic arteries to Jewish traffic?”
Mesika added, “Opening the road to Arabs makes it easier for them to ‘mistakenly’ enter Avnei Hefetz.”
Tzvi Dardik from the secretariat of Avnei Hefetz said during last week’s demonstration, “The IDF decided to remove the barrier despite having promised not to do so until the road is adjusted to accommodate the large masses of residents of Shechem who will travel through it. We once again warn that if no changes are made, including widening the road and adding lighting - the road will become a death trap. The road is not built to accommodate the great mass of Arabs who will pass through if the barrier comes down.
The opening of the road near Avnei Hefetz comes after another road between Beit Furik and Elon Moreh was opened to Arabs for the first time in 12 years last week.
The road, which is known as the Madison Route, connects to the Samaria Brigade base, passes through the entrance to Itamar and ends at the community of Elon Moreh.
The road was closed to vehicles with the onset of the Second Intifada, also known as the Oslo War, in 2000. Since then, the IDF has prohibited Arab residents of the area to drive through the road, after terrorists carried out a number of shooting attacks directed against Israeli vehicles.
On Wednesday, residents of Elon Moreh protested against the opening of Madison Route and prevented Arabs from passing through.
Elon Moreh resident Davidi Ben-Zion told Arutz Sheva on Sunday that “the road was opened to Arab traffic following the demand of extreme left-wing activists and Palestinians. The IDF surrendered easily.”
He added, “This is a very difficult period in terms of security. Only recently there have been several attempts to infiltrate the community.”
The IDF said in response that “traffic on the roads is determined by assessing the situation and by security concerns. The IDF is operating to ensure a proper fabric of life for all residents of the area while taking the required security measures.”
Tags: Avnei Hefetz ,Shufa ,roadblocks ,roadblock removal
More on this topic
Comment on this story
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