...As the Chickens come home to Roost

It is a scientific axiom... for every action there is a reaction. In Israel this is proving to be the case, after months or years of promoting a settler agenda for the nation the right is seeing it's "chickens coming home to roost".

Last week we had a settler mob in Anatot beating on Leftist activists, vandalizing cars and a host of other violent activities.

Writing on Ynet: Yishai Rosen-Zvi talks about this in his editorial: Lynch the Leftists. In this article Rosen-Zvi had this to say:

.....Friday evening, at the end of Rosh Hashana, a lynching was carried out outside the settlement of Anatot. No less. View the videos online and see for yourselves. Fortunately, the incident ended with only 26 people wounded and several razed cars, with no fatalities. However, those exposed to the story via the media heard at most about “clashes” between leftist activists and settlers. Three people were held by police for questioning – leftists, of course.....

....“There are some guys who wish to come here and kick your ass,” “you dogs,” “you whores are sleeping with Arabs, “all the residents will come here,” “there will be death here.” What does it sound like? An angry mob marching with raised fists and yelling, with blazing eyes, “death to the Arabs.” A stone is hurled, a spike (knife?) is pulled out, people are lying on the road, bleeding; broken noses, shattered windows. What does it look like?

I saw the video on that and indeed it was a mob scene. As I mentioned in another place it is understandable that the people in Anatot were pissed off - here are people telling them they are "colonist land thieves", telling them they have to give up their homes to give to people who belong to a polity that wants them out of Israel completely. So I get that they are pissed. Not only that, but the people standing up for those that want to take away their homes, cleanse their families from Israel are fellow Jews and fellow Israelis. That is is even more maddening. HOWEVER.. That is simply no excuse for forming a lynch mob, verbally assaulting people, and beating them. That is no reason to contravene democratic norms. Moreover it is indicative of a horrible trend that is allowed and even encouraged that has seriously racist tinges to it.

The fact that people were attacked and bloodied in the manner of a good old mob attack all for speaking out for their political beliefs is disgusting and should be dealt with but it was not. It was simply pushed aside, not dealt with. In fact, it was the leftists who were questioned - even though it was the mob that used violence. Where as Jews, have we seen this before? We have seen this throughout our history. Except that the violence was perpetrated on us. No matter how obnoxious the activists were that is no reason to assault people.

But the government, a government that seems to be going out of its way to support the elements of the mob, a government that seems to be run increasingly by the outright rightists on the YESHA Council and by Yisrael Betainu seems to want to shut down criticism. Loyalty oaths, laws about directing speech and behavior aimed at leftists.. this is not characteristic of a democracy.

So now the chickens have come home to roost. From Haaretz: Dozens of settlers surround IDF patrol in West Bank and assault soldiers

The incident began after rumors circulated that the Gal Yosef illegal outpost is about to be evacuated. At approximately 9 P.M. the settlers erected roadblocks and blocked the entrance to the outpost with their cars.

	Masked West Bank settlers, top, clashing with Palestinians in the village of Assira al-Kibliya yesterday.
	Photo by: AP

An IDF patrol vehicle that arrived on the scene was blocked by settlers. The soldiers tried to turn back, but were stopped by more roadblocks.

The vehicle was then surrounded by a few dozen youth from nearby settlements. When the soldiers asked them to let the vehicle pass, one of the soldiers was punched in the face, prompting a violent clash between the two sides. Soldiers who were called to the scene were able to detain one of the attackers, but he managed to escape.


A senior IDF commander said that "the army sees this incident as crossing a red line, and the settlers who were involved in violence against the soldiers will be arrested soon by the police."
Officers serving in the West Bank have reported recently that tensions between security forces and settlers are on the rise. According to one senior office, "the security forces spend more time dealing with incidents involving Israeli citizens than confronting Palestinian terrorism."

So now this behavior is leading to attacks on the soldiers. The very people charged with defending the nation, these are the people that the Rightists are attacking.

Is this defending Israel? Is burning a Mosque in the Galilee making Israel safer? Is this something that the government really wants to encourage. We criticize this behaviour in Hamas and the P.A. We rightly criticize these organizations for their allowing the demonization of Israel. Well, if we do that then where is our criticism when our own side engages in this.

The "Red Line" has indeed been crossed, what is the government going to do about it. When mobs of settlers shouting racist slogans and beating on those who are not committing violence are not only left alone but encouraged, well then something needs to change. Now is this a call to support the Palestinians, no... Those of you who know me, know that I criticize their violence as well. It is a call for Israel to really take a hard look at what is happening and deal with those reactionary elements that bring out the worst of what should be a "light unto nations"

Shalom.