Government Spin of De-Humanization and Demonation Vs. the Truth
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To set the proper perspective, this author shares an email received earlier this morning from a friend regarding Hasbara to use against the Sharon/Olmert Regime’s Rhetoric of De-Humanization and Demonization of the Jews of Yehuda, the Shomron and the Refugees from Gush Katif.
The government and the media use these words, and more to paint a picture for
the world:
settlers
protesters
rioters
extremists
ultranationalists
ultra-religious
criminals
We should avoid helping them, and should use other words such as:
Jews
Brethren
Residents
Homeowners
Landowners
Residents Rights Supporters
Citizens
Democracy Advocates
This morning, another email was received by an individual who left for Chevron at 1 AM this morning to beat the Closure;
REPORTED BY INDIVIDUAL WHO ARRIVED IN CHEVRON BEFORE MILITARY CLOSURE;
“S. spent all night getting into Hevron, including waiting for hours for a ride at Tzomet Gush Etzion in the freezing early morning hours. He’s now in Avraham Avinu. He says things are quiet, but the police are gathering outside. Lots of mounted cops, and they’re not cleaning up after their horses. The locals believe that the campaign to evict the non-resident youth will begin today. They are pinning many hopes on the court case in Bet Shemesh today, but I reminded him that any legal stoppage of the eviction will surely be overturned by Aharon Barak’s Supreme Court.”
TODAY’S DISTRICT COURT HEARING IN BEIT SHEMESH;
First to clarify that there has been NO temporary restraining order issued as yet according to Counsel for the litigants (Interview below). The hearing was held today begiinning at 10 AM and Judge Shtein will render his decision within a couple of days as to whether he can hear the case, and if so, presumably placing a temporary restraining order on the government and the army..
This author held on to the names of the Litigants through the night in order not to be the source for revealing their names. Once their names were revealed by the media, i.e. IMRA, and in an article written by David Bedein (linked below), the Schlissel’s names are of the public record.
Bedein’s article IDF Moves Into Hebron With Orders to Fire on Jews is >>important reading< < in it's entirety as it outlines the history of the Mitzpe Shalehevet neighborhood from it's acquisition by the Jews in the 1800s through the Jordanian takeover in 1948, through the Jews returning in the Six Day War, through it's use as an Arab Shuk through the terrorist snipper who snuffed out the life of tiny Shalehevet Pass, the closing of the Shuk and it's current status as apartments being rented by Jewish families. But this author will excerpt those segments which are pertinent to the hearing held this morning in the District Court of Beit Shemesh. (Note: the current link will degrade within a few days to be replaced by an archive link)
Excerpts;
“Rabbi Yisrael and Mrs. Tzippy Shlissel petitioned the Israel district court in Beit Shemsh, requesting an injunction preventing expulsion from their home in the Mitzpe Shalhevet neighborhood.”
“Rabbi Shlissel is the dean of the Ohr Shlomo Torah Study Center in the Admot Ishai (Tel Rumeida) neighborhood of Hebron. The center is named after his father-in-law Rabbi Shlomo Ra’anan, the 63 year old grandson of Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook, killed by terrorists 7 years ago at his home in that neighborhood. Parents of 10 children, the Shlissels moved to Hebron following the murder in order to be closer to Tzippy’s mother, Chaya.”
“The main points of the Shlissel’s claim: [1]. We were never issued an eviction notice and were not included in any legal proceeding dealing with our home. [2]. A special judicial committee recommended by majority vote to rent the property under discussion to the Jewish community of Hebron. This would allow us to remain living in our home. [3]. We have proven (in this claim) that the military has already told the Supreme Court that they intend rent the property to the Jewish Community of Hebron and they have agreed to rent the property. [4]. We have proven that legally, the Jewish Community of Hebron must provide us with alternative housing should we be expelled from our home and that they will be responsible for any damages caused by the expulsion.”
After the hearing, this author spoke with Advocate Yoram Sheftel, Counsel for the Shlissels. Advocate Sheftel stated that the hearing dealt mainly with the issue of Jurisdiction; whether the Beit Shemesh District Court was proper Juridiction or whether the proper Jurisdiction for this case is the “High Court of Justice.” The Shlissels and Advocate Sheftel hold that there is a dual jurisdiction and that it is appropriate to request a restraining order in this case from the Jurisdiction of Beit Shemesh District Court. Counsel for the State however is arguing that proper jurisdiction is with the “High Court of Justice.” Among the other issues raised were the history of ownership, whether the Schlissels got proper notice, etc.
One further point, the Shlissel’s are renting one of the dwellings in the Mitzpe Shalehevet Neighborhood.
Now, a few subsequent reports from media and from the contact inside Chevron;
11:00 AM; “S is walking just behind a group of about 60 YASSAM, MAGAV, and blue police who are on their way into Avraham Avinu. There seem to be more such groups moving in elsewhere. Also present are civilian-clad cops with “police” hats – probably detectives from the investigations unit. I could hear the “clop clop” of the horses’ hooves over the phone.”
Gate Between Kiryat Arba and Chevron Blockaded
Loose Translation of Hebrew;
“The gate between Kiryat Arba and Hevron has been blockaded by similar forces, and several such groups are entering the city to carry out arrests. They are said to have search warrants this time.”
12 Noon; “There is now officially no entrance to Hevron allowed to anyone
without a teudat zehut listing residence there.”
Also 12 Noon; “Non-residents have been given 15 minutes to leave Hevron.
Non-compliance means removal by force.”
1:20 PM; “The security forces have entered Avraham Avinu to evict the non-
residents. Several kids are screaming ‘police state.'”
3:45 PM; “I just got back with a bus of Efrat/Jerusalem women (2 guys too) from
Chevron, and after davening in Me’arat HaMachpela and visiting Mitzpeh
Shalhevet.
It was very quiet there. People seemed to be going about their business. The
only difference, there were a ton of press folks looking for a scoop.
I didn’t seem the Yassamnikim or Magavnikim or any extra-ordinary amount of
soldiers or police (then again, I didn’t know where to look – which is also
possible).
I understand that all non-residents have been told to leave Chevron …
It didn’t look like anything extraordinary was going on in Mitzpeh
Shalhevet, but it could have been the quiet before the storm, chas v’shalom.
In Me’arat HaMachpela, I walked into the room by the monuments for Yaakov
and Leah. Rav Levinger was sitting and learning. A Russian soldier with a
cardboard kippah was sitting there for a long time, quietly praying. Then a
policeman with that police cap that is kind of iridescent came over to Rav
Levinger and asked the Rav to put tefillin on him. That was very cool.
May Hashem watch over the devoted Jewish community of Chevron and those of
all of Eretz Yisrael.”