VIDEO / IDF soldiers protect Palestinian olive farmers from settlers

[shira]

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1032246.html

A group of Israel Defense Forces soldiers have been given what some may consider a surprising new assignment - protecting Palestinian olive farmers from settlers looking to disrupt the harvest.

The October olive harvest is generally a nerve-racking affair for Palestinian farmers in the West Bank, who must contend with increasing settler attacks meant to sabotage their labor.


In light of rising settler violence, the Tzabar Battalion of the Givati Brigade is now providing protection to Palestinian villagers near the particularly volatile settlement of Itamar.

The soldiers, who protect Palestinians by day and fight them by night, are therefore forced to contend with a dual role and a blurring of the lines between enemies and allies.

[madaboutharry]

1. The settlers are a

Shanda to the Jewish people.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. No, they are not.

[madaboutharry]

3. Yes they are.

I have a lot of respect for you Behind the Aegis, but this is where we disagree.

The behavior of the settlers has been a disgrace. Their behavior is racist.

I feel strongly about this and there is nothing you can say that will change my mind.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. No, they are not.

Thank you for the compliment. I never said the behavior of the settlers weren't racist or a disgrace. However, they are not a shonda to the Jewish people, anymore than the 9-11 terrorists are a disgrace to Arabs/Muslims. If they (the settlers) are a 'shonda' to anyone (other than themselves), it would be to the Israelis.

A "kapo" would be an example of a shonda to the Jewish people.

[jonnyblitz]

5. I can't believe you stick up for those far right racist pieces of shit.

disgusting. :puke:

[LeftishBrit]

7. My interpretation...

is that BTA wasn't sticking up for them, just saying that Jews as a whole should not feel represented and therefore humiliated by them. (Just as Christians should not feel represented by Palin.)

I agree that the RW settler movement is disgusting! I am glad that the IDF are doing their job in this case - they don't always.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Bingo!

(Thanks! :hi:)

[Behind the Aegis]

8. I didn't.

So, get a grip.

[Alamuti Lotus]

4. weird reversal of reality...

I suppose I can see their argument -- "making their lives miserable is OUR job, buddy -- step on my toes at risk!"

Waiting for the day when they start knocking down the homes of the squatters and kidnapping their family. Not holding breath, of course.


And in other news,

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081030/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians">Israel demolishes dozens of West Bank shacks

MUGHAYIR EL DIR, West Bank – The Israeli army knocked down shacks in a West Bank village for the second straight day Thursday, leaving dozens of Palestinian Bedouin homeless, a United Nations official said.

Israeli military spokesman Zidki Maman said the structures razed were built in a closed military zone without permits and the villagers were warned in advance.

Forty-five people lost their homes Wednesday in a village near the West Bank city of Hebron, said James Weatherill, Humanitarian Affairs Officer at the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Thursday's operation in the village of Mughayir el Dir, 8 miles northeast of Jerusalem, destroyed 25 homes and left dozens more homeless.

The two days of demolitions came after a lull in recent months, said Weatherill.

The villages affected are in the nearly two-thirds of the West Bank that are under full Israeli control, pending a peace deal with the Palestinians.

[Shaktimaan]

6. It's nothing new for Israel to remove settlements.

It won't happen in the middle of an escalation by Hamas so as not to look like they're rewarding terrorism, but it certainly happens.
Not too sure what the kidnapping comment is about though.


3 illegal West Bank outposts evacuated.
http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3610928,00.html

Israeli settlers protest removal of West Bank outpost
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/26/2401565.htm

Israel Begins Effort to Remove Illegal Settler Outposts in the West Bank
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0DE6DE163AF933A25753C1A9649C8B63