Israel Unveils Tip of Jewish Terror Iceberg, Embedded with Settlers

[vierundzwanzig]

25/08/2003


Palestine Media Center – PMC

Vindicating Palestinian warnings against the imminent Jewish terror threat that is embedded with the illegal Israeli settlers on occupied territories in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities recently busted a Jewish “terror cell” suspected of killing nine Palestinians and of plotting and launching anti-Palestinian attacks capable of further inflaming the crisis with the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation since 1967.

Since July, Israeli police and the Shin Beth internal security services have arrested nine Jewish settlers, including a reserve soldier, unmasking only the tip of the iceberg of settlers’ terrorism.

They are suspected of carrying out operations, mostly roadside shootings that have killed at least nine Palestinians. The attacks were claimed by anonymous sources as revenge attacks carried out by shadowy groups.

Nine Palestinians have been killed since April 2001, Israeli security forces have been allegedly unable to determine who was behind the attacks.

http://www.palestine-pmc.com/details.asp?cat=1&id=1016

[tinnypriv]

1. The Israeli press

Says the "Jewish Underground" may be reforming.

Standard comment in Israel is "we free Arabs, but arrest Jews?". Nice huh?

[dfong63]

2. the relevant criterion

... for arrests, should be the evidence against the person in question, not whether s/he is an Arab or a Jew.

interesting how the Israeli-chauvinists always try to change the topic of discussion from facts to emotions.

``The IDF killed an unarmed child!''
``But you should see the way they hate us.''

``Your "security wall" cuts thru the heart of the occupied territories!''
``After the holocaust, we learned the world would not defend us, we had to do it ourselves.''

``The settlements are illegal under international law!''
``God promised us this land.''

[tinnypriv]

6. That ain't the worst

"We need more like him!"
"Shame on you Arik!"
"This arrest is outrageous!"
"He should get a medal, not jail"

Comments I've seen run about 80-20% in favor of these "Jewish Underground" folks. Granted, that isn't representative (hopefully).

The one piece of sanity I saw was a Professor saying "terror is terror" ('mechabel ze mechabel').

You're right about the topic of discussion. I call it the "Look Over There!" tactic :D

[StandWatie]

11. mechabel means something more like "sabateur"

in a literal sense, it's current use is equivalent to "terrorist" but it's interesting to note that during the mandate the word didn't carry any sort of negative connotations.

[QuietStorm]

12. but all ills

and sabateurs were forgiven and some became legitimized within Israeli Government once the mandate era passed into the partition era.

[Cassandra]

15. As ours were after the American Revolution

Consider that if we had lost, the founders of this country would have been hanged as traitors, even though their main targets were military. The winning side always has the option of reabsorbing its irregulars. As Franklin said, "Revolutions are always legal in the first person, as in 'our revolution'. It is only in the third person, 'their revolution', that it becomes illegal." :-) Sorry if that is not a perfect quote.

[QuietStorm]

18. I guess in that context

the native americans would have been considered the sabateurs or the terrorists, give or take, depending on whose shoes you are walking around in.

On the other hand I believe in your context, as you meant it, the founding fathers took possession of the land and then westwardly expanded. They were not here by declaration. They were a faction of revolutionaries revolting against the mother country herself. So it is not an exact parallel here. The culture clash came against those indigenous to the land. Between the founding fathers and the mother country it wasn't a matter so much of a culture clash as much as it was a political revolt. That said, I do understand your point I am just not sure it parallels this as closely.

Now if we were to look at in terms of having been no Balfour than perhaps your context might work. If the founding fathers of Israel had not pervailed most like they would have been executed. Those playing dirty pool I mean.

[tinnypriv]

13. Yeah dual meaning I guess

Interesting how words are shaped by circumstances isn't it? It may explain the huge use of "terrorist" to describe almost all Palestinians these days.

I don't know, but I would bet the word was used during the mandate to literally mean the same as it does now, but refering in a positive way to the heroic underground etc.

[StandWatie]

14. it was..

[QuietStorm]

9. well than

mista'aravim (arab platoon - shakar) or various infiltrations such as this is not too far off the mark of speculation. (one would assume to kill arabs this embedded cell would need to pass as arabs). I did not read the article just the snips, but that is what came to mind instantaneously.

[dfong63]

3. isn't this a good sign?

Israel cracking down on their loose cannons, is a good thing. it'll be interesting to see whether the perpetrators are really punished, or just quietly let go after a few months.

[The Magistrate]

4. It Is A Good Sign, Sir

It ought to be applauded by any who have the best interests of Israel at heart, as well as by those who support the legitimate aspirations of the people of Arab Palestine.

As you say, it remains to be seen whether these murderous thugs will receive their just desserts, and it is unfortunate that there can be real uncertainty regarding that. Too often in the past, this sort of slug has gotten off with scant punishment.

[tinnypriv]

5. Assuming the "trial" gets any media coverage

Compare and contrast two stories:

1. Kidnap of an IDF soldier
2. Manhunt of a former IDF soldier suspected of planning "terror"

I presume there is no need to compare column inches.

[Darranar]

7. They didn't blow up their cars with rockets...

fired from helicopters.

There are Israeli terrorists. This is proof. Are you listening, drdon?

[QuietStorm]

10. was there doubt they existed.

and I will go you one better, and to be clear *as speculation* one could argue (however the media spins it), the cell could be a leg of various Israeli intelligence Units and therefore just following orders. While no one can say with surety, the speculation is not necessarily that far-fetched. (Morris, Israel's Secret Wars)

[QuietStorm]

8. a leg of

mista'aravim (or perhaps operations residing within one of the intelligence legs)? Only conjecture. I do not have substantiation. It is just that this embedded "terror cell" does seem to serve a purpose. Can not say IDF would suffer much sleep loss.

[Herschel]

16. Yes

"Since July, Israeli police and the Shin Beth internal security services have arrested nine Jewish settlers, including a reserve soldier, unmasking only the tip of the iceberg of settlers’ terrorism."

Perhaps the P.A. should take notice Israel has arrested them.

[StandWatie]

17. bet you any amount of money that you want

they will be walking free around Hebron in two years at the most.

[rini]

19. A lesson one hopes the Palestinians learn

The Israelis arrested these people, they didn't name summer camps after them, write rap songs in their honor, or name streets after them. I hope this example is followed by the PA.

On a lighter side, the image of an iceberg in the middle east with Israeli penquins is priceless.