Excerpt:
“The new image of the IDF is not a pretty one. Who can trust future governments to refrain from again using the army to expel other citizens from their homes without due process of law? The future of the IDF has been compromised by misuse and involvement where it should never have been used. The supposedly democratic nature of our society is shown to be a sham when superior force is used to quell civil disobedience. The use of the military for this purpose is never appropriate and measures need to be taken to see that it does not happen again. Concurrently, the leadership of the military and police, members of the Knesset, and the Supreme Court and other public figures involved in supporting Ariel Sharon’s evil and criminal plan need to be replaced or retired. This calls for new elections and reform in our whole system of government and all its institutions, some of which need to be abolished and replaced with institutions that serve the public with compassion and humanity, and reflect long-held Jewish beliefs, traditions and values.”
N’vei Dekalim Refugees Settling in Nitzan
Searching for Support, by Rachel Saperstein
Excerpts:
“UJA representatives assured me proudly that the UJA had given our children schoolbags. I looked at them with sadness in my eyes and pointed out that I was handing out packets of cash to over 450 families. The Canadian Jewish community had raised over a billion dollars for the refugees of the Katrina hurricane in Louisiana and the earthquake in Pakistan. And homeless refugee children from Gush Katif had received schoolbags. Clearly, the UJA and most other Jewish organizations had been duped by the government of Israel into believing that we had been well taken care of.”
“Introduced by the host of a Thornhill parlor meeting, I listened to a very sincere description of his group’s visit to Gush Katif shortly before the eviction.”
“‘People,’ I said, trying to light fires, ‘this expulsion of Jews is going to happen again and again throughout Israel. Are you preparing for the coming battle?’
“A sense of helplessness pervaded the room. ‘What can we do?’
“‘Work together. You are all bright, dedicated professionals. Organize now!'”
“People spoke to one another in excited groups as they sampled the cakes and fruit.”
“‘You gave a powerful speech’ said one smiling man, ‘but I’ve got to get home. I have an early golf date in the morning.'”
“I stayed at the large home of a Holocaust survivor, now a widow. She spoke movingly of the Jews endless fight for survival: ‘Jews are always being thrown out. What’s new about that? So start again. That’s what Jews always do.'”
“‘But that’s not supposed to happen in Israel,’ I countered. ‘Having our own land was supposed to end that phenomenon.'”
“‘Never believe anyone,’ she mused knowingly.
1 thought on “Expulsion: in Retrospect, Continuing Consequences …”
Comments are closed.