Sheriffs of the land: Meet the settlers with military authority

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://972mag.com/sheriffs-of-the-land-meet-settlers-with-military-authority/67392/

The position of the Civilian Security Officer is unique to Israel: a settler who gives orders to IDF soldiers as if he is an officer, but is not actually held responsible under the military system. So, to whom is he accountable?


In some of the more confrontational settlements, some of the CSOs serve not only to defend the settlement, but often use their authority to extend areas occupied by the settlements and to abuse Palestinians. Sometimes they publicly embarrass the army, which then has to intervene. In September 2012, the CSO of Bat Ayin ordered the soldiers under his command to prevent non-Jewish Israeli citizens from entering the settlements – an illegal order. In response, the army capitulated to him (Hebrew) and ordered the soldiers to inform the CSO whenever such people enter the settlements, so they could be “escorted” while there. And then there is the troublesome fact, as discussed in the Knesset, that some 50 CSOs (Hebrew) have criminal records – a fact that the Defense Ministry did not deny.

All of this should be remembered when we discuss the following case. Less than two months ago, according to the complaints received by Yesh Din, a Palestinian, T., took his herd to pasture in Jordan Valley. Suddenly, the CSO of a nearby settlement, who was known to T., showed up with another security man. According to T.’s statement, the two pointed their guns at him, and the CSO started abusing him, ordering him to sit down and get up over and over again, as if T. was a green recruit facing a sadistic non-commissioned officer. When T. sat down as ordered, the CSO kicked him, saying T. did not sit down quickly enough. Shortly afterwards, according to the complaints, soldiers who took their orders from the CSO showed up, handcuffed T., and the CSO started dispersing his herd by throwing stones at it. The CSO told T. in Arabic – which most soldiers don’t speak – that the next time he sees him near his settlement, he will not tell the soldiers that T. is loitering; he will tell them he came in order to carry out a terror attack.

Another day, another sadistic pile of crap known as the illegal Israeli colonies.

[oberliner]

1. Does Yossi Gurvitz email you before he puts up his articles?

Or do you just keep hitting refresh at 972mag until there is a new item posted?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. State. Sponsored. Terror.

And, of course, he is correct. Who will be there to protect him the next time the CSO drops for a visit? The CSO lives there and the military forces rotate in an out. Even if some officer does remember that the CSO was harassing T., and even if he was willing to challenge the CSO over it – and these are two big ifs, and such officers are rare indeed – then, in a few months, the officer will be posted somewhere else, and T. will still have to live with his vengeful sheriff. Better to keep your head down; that way you might keep it.

And that’s how, under the aegis of the IDF, terror is implemented.

[Scootaloo]

3. Your acute insight into the matter is deeply valued n/t

[azurnoir]

4. I had of the co-operation between the IDF and the settlers but this takes it to a whole new level

thanks for posting