Israel's radical settlers: A fifth column?

[Jefferson23]

Settlers try to stop security forces from dismantling illegal outposts by making the price too high to bear.

Roxanne Horesh Last Modified: 03 Jan 2012 17:18

Oz Zion, West Bank - Heroic youth. Righteous Jews. Hill top kids. Crazy folks. Nationalist criminals. Vigilantes. Terrorists. The price tag movement.

Countless names exist for a group of settlers in the occupied West Bank that exact retribution against Palestinians and the Israeli army in response to policies targeting the settlement movement. The group has burned and desecrated mosques, destroyed olive groves on private Palestinian land, harassed people and property, and most recently confronted an Israeli army base. The last assault on December 13 forced Israel's government and the Israeli public to take note of this rogue element in their society.

Police arrested two of these young settlers on Wednesday evening in the illegally constructed outpost of Oz Zion. The reason for their arrest remains unknown.

Oz Zion, or "Zion's might", a newly built outpost erected on private Palestinian land, is east of Ramallah and neighbours the larger settlement of Givat Assaf in the occupied West Bank. The hilltop resembles a campsite with five makeshift wooden sheds, where a few dozen residents live.

in full: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/01/201211122117405870.html

[azurnoir]

1. a 5th column?

perhaps but I'd wager for some they're more like home guard

[Scurrilous]

2. Israel mulls espionage charges against Jewish West Bank activists

Eight men suspected of tracking IDF movements in area in order to disrupt dismantling of illegal West Bank outposts, alerting other activists.

<snip>

"The State Prosecutor's Office intends to indict right-wing activists with espionage over suspicions they tracked Israel Defense Forces activities in the West Bank, Haaretz learned on Tuesday.

Late last week, the activists were apprehended following a a joint operation by Israel Police and Shin Bet forces over suspicions that they had gathered intelligence on IDF movements in the West Bank."

<snip>

"According to the police, the eight activists operated an "outpost intelligence HQ," which involved a methodical tracking of IDF movements in the West Bank, meant to disrupt the demolition of illegal outposts.

The suspects allegedly alerted hundreds of right-wing activists on the night of December 12, and to the events which followed, which included an assault on a West Bank army base as well as on a top IDF officer."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-mulls-espionage-charges-against-jewish-west-bank-activists-1.405324

[Scurrilous]

3. Settler leader: Democracy must be dismantled

Settler leader Benni Katzover calls for dismantling democracy and “bowing to Judaism”. Can we finally discuss the treason of the right?

<snip>

"The veteran settler leader, Benni Katzover, was caught (Hebrew) telling some meshigene Habad paper, “Beit Mashiach”, that “I would say that today, Israeli democracy has one central mission, and that is to disappear. Israeli democracy has finished its historical role, and it must be dismantled and bow before Judaism. All the events nowadays are leading to the realization that there is no other way except putting the Jewish issue before any other issue, and that is the answer to all the situation and the threats.” Emphasis mine.

Referring to the struggle against gender exclusion, Katzover sailed on the seas of conspiracy, and said “The leftist activists are cooking timed campaigns against anything that smells of holiness, and they have two goals: One is political – undermining the government and gathering bonuses in public opinion, and the other is to act against all the foundations of Jewish faith.” It’s an interesting look into a leading settler’s world: On the one hand, gender exclusion is “holiness”; On the other, leftists are Erev Rav – Amalekites who pretend to be, or believe themselves to be, Jews, who are seen as such, and yet whose whole existence is undermining “anything that smells of holiness.” Katzover, when asked for comment by Haaretz, confirmed his comments."

http://972mag.com/settler-leader-democracy-must-be-dismantled/32401/

[azurnoir]

4. the settlers in the Knesset too

Second Israeli MK admits to having given settlers information on IDF movements

National Union MK Uri Ariel confessed last week to giving Israeli settlers information on the Israel Defense Forces' movements, even before it was discovered Sunday that Likud MK and coalition chairman Ze'ev Elkin divulged similar information.

Ariel, during a Knesset committee meeting last Thursday, said that numerous times he had transferred information to settlers on IDF movements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

"If a person who transfers information about IDF movements is a spy, then I am a spy," Ariel said during a discussion on law enforcement in the settlements. "If others were arrested, I should be arrested as well."

Earlier Sunday, Haaretz revealed that Likud MK Ze'ev Elkin contacted right-wing activists to inform them of IDF movements in the West Bank.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/second-israeli-mk-admits-to-having-given-settlers-information-on-idf-movements-1.406191

[Scurrilous]

5. Second Israeli MK admits to having given settlers information on IDF movements

National Union's Uri Ariel says 'if a person who transfers information about IDF movements is a spy, then I am a spy'; Likud MK Ze'ev Elkin was found to having given right-wing activists information on IDF earlier Sunday.

<snip>

"National Union MK Uri Ariel confessed last week to giving Israeli settlers information on the Israel Defense Forces' movements, even before it was discovered Sunday that Likud MK and coalition chairman Ze'ev Elkin divulged similar information.

Ariel, during a Knesset committee meeting last Thursday, said that numerous times he had transferred information to settlers on IDF movements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

"If a person who transfers information about IDF movements is a spy, then I am a spy," Ariel said during a discussion on law enforcement in the settlements. "If others were arrested, I should be arrested as well."

Earlier Sunday, Haaretz revealed that Likud MK Ze'ev Elkin contacted right-wing activists to inform them of IDF movements in the West Bank."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/second-israeli-mk-admits-to-having-given-settlers-information-on-idf-movements-1.406191

[Jefferson23]

6. Thanks for all the additional information Scurrilous. n/t