Mofaz's responsibility (for the destruction of olive trees)

[Wordie]

Mofaz's responsibility

The defense minister's bureau issued a statement on Thursday stating that Shaul Mofaz has decided to appoint a committee to look into who is responsible for the methodical uprooting of Palestinians' olive trees. Mofaz went so far as to say that the uprooting of these trees is a "shocking" deed, and even promised compensation for Palestinians whose trees have been uprooted.

But the act of appointing a committee is nothing but an evasion of responsibility and a continuation of the debacle that has been going on for almost a year in an area of which Mofaz himself is in charge. If any committee needs to be appointed, then it ought to be a committee to investigate how Mofaz permitted outlaws to uproot thousands of olive trees since April, in areas under the control of the Israel Defense Forces, and how it is possible that they don't have "the slightest lead," as he says, into finding the outlaws.

The proper thing would be to place the tree uprooters on trial, and to require them, rather than the state, to pay compensation to the injured parties. Meanwhile, the state is not doing even the bare minimum, and the testimony of the victims is being collected by the non-profit organization Yesh Din - Volunteers for Human Rights, instead of the police.

The ongoing uprooting of trees, torching of orchards, as well as the daily harassment of the farmers who come to work their land, cannot be considered mere negligence in law enforcement, but rather deliberate disregard. Ultimately, the state benefits from the fact that Palestinians are afraid to work their lands - they become state owned, and can be used to expand settlements.

The article's author concludes by saying that Mofaz and Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra (who is in charge of the police) should themselves be investigated.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/664558.html

[pelsar]

1. i found it "funny" a need for an investigation.....

Shaul Mofaz has decided to appoint a committee to look into who is responsible for the methodical uprooting of Palestinians' olive trees

he should simply ask some of the reservists who have served......

[Scurrilous]

2. Defending settler anarchy

Settler violence in West Bank well documented

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3194003,00.html

<snip>

"Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz suddenly figured out that violent settlers are damaging Palestinian property, and says he is shocked by this surprising phenomenon.

He said he would appoint a team to investigate incidents of settlers cutting down olive trees. Law enforcement in the territories could stand some serious improvements, but not in the realm of information.

Minister Mofaz can save us the cost of his investigation. Instead, should simply read the thousands of pages written on the topic in recent years, by B'tselem and other human rights groups active in the territories, as well as several law enforcement agencies in Israel.

These reports document damage to Palestinian olive crops, violence in the South Mount Hebron region and the eviction of Palestinians from their homes in Hebron."

<snip>

"These issues are well known: Israeli citizens can rage out of control in the territories because Israel's law enforcement establishment has consistently demonstrated a weak hand in dealing with the phenomenon and the IDF ignoring its responsibility to defend the Palestinian population."