Police Threaten Rape of Jewish Teenagers

[NewsGuy]

I posted this at the end of another thread, but it is shocking enough to merit its own discussion about whether Olmert who ordered the vicious attack on Jewish families is guilty of crime against humanity.

As of this time, dozens of victims of the forced expulsion are still lying in hospital beds, some near death after Olmert ordered Israeli army troops and police squads to smash the skulls of the men, women and children whose homes he demolished.

Human rights groups and local citizen councils are calling for a formal inquiry, which Olmert's administration is resisting.

Yesterday, yet another atrocity of the expulsion was revealed:

The Israeli press reported yesterday that many teenage girls in Amona were sexually molested by the Olmert expulsion police and threatened with rape.


Police accused of sexual harassment during Amona clash
By Nadav Shragai

Last Update: 07/02/2006 02:05

Top Yesha Council settler leaders have charged police officers with sexually harassing female protesters during last week's evacuation of the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona. The allegations were made public for the first time yesterday, during a two-hour meeting between Yesha officials and Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra.

[...]

The alleged harassment includes police officers attempting to touch female protesters in an inappropriate manner. In another incident, a policeman is accused of urinating near female protesters and rudely dismissing a policewoman who spoke to him about it.

Policemen are also accused of shouting at young women: "We are going to rape you," and a female protester reported that while a policeman was attempting to remove her from the site, he had yelled: "Whore, open your legs."

Until yesterday, the accusations had been made only in closed meetings.

Article (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=rape&itemNo=679556)

[NewsGuy]

Well, looks like Olmert will be investigated despite his best efforts to avoid an inquiry:

Knesset approves inquiry panel into Amona clashes
By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent

The right-wing parties marked an important achievement on Wednesday when lawmakers approved a proposal to form a parliamentary inquiry committee to look into the violent evacuation of nine structures built in the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona last month.

The proposal was approved in a 37 to 32 vote, with deputies of Likud, NRP, National Union and the ultra-Orthodox parties voting in favor, and MKs from Kadima, Labor, Meretz and the Arab parties opposing it.

Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz attended the vote, which marked Olmert's first defeat in the Knesset since he was named acting prime minister following Ariel Sharon's massive stroke on January 4.

Olmert has expressed his outright opposition to an inquiry into the Amona incident, where some 200 people were injured during clashes between right-wingers and police forces, which used officers mounted on horseback to disperse hundreds of stone-throwing protesters

Source (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/680510.html)


I hope that Olmert is held accountable for his explicit orders to the Israeli army and police to brutalize the Jewish men, women, and children whose violent expulsion he ordered.

[minusthejihad]

Without knowing much about Olmert or his hostory altogether, my general perception is that he had to 1) carry out Sharon's destiny to secure Kadima leadership and 2) he had to demonstrate to his people, the Arabs, and the rest of the world that he was strong. I think he may have gone too far. Either way, its a black eye for Israel.

[NewsGuy]

... its a black eye for Israel.

Yes, very much so.

[NewsGuy]

Interesting opinion piece:



What Is Olmert Afraid Of?
By Yehuda Poch February 6, 2006

MKs on both ends of the political spectrum as well as President Moshe Katsav have called for an official investigation of the events in Amona. Even Israel's Attorney General, Menachem Mazuz, who has not demonstrated any particular friendship to Israel's right wing, hinted, according to a report on Israel Radio today, that police erred by using excessive violence during the evacuation of the outpost last Wednesday. Today, he told the cabinet that other methods of evacuation could have been employed to remove the protesters from the site.

Yet Mazuz, in the very hypocritical fashion Israelis have come to refer to as "politics," backed Olmert's decision not to hold an inquiry.

In light of the fact that even the most left-wing members of Knesset, such as Yuli Tamir, have been calling for such an investigation, Olmert's refusal leaves a huge question mark over his government. And it is a question that must be answered before the elections. That question is, what is Olmert afraid of?

Is he afraid that such an investigation would include in its mandate the role of the government in fostering an attitude that a significant segment of Israel's population are viewed as "outsiders"? Is he afraid that it will include an investigation into how and why Israeli right wingers are driven to establish communities the government refuses to legalize? Is he afraid it will examine how any Jewish government can drive Jews out of their homes and then fail to pay the promised compensation? Is he afraid of an investigation into why such "removals" of illegal communities are not carried out when the communities in question are Arab? Or is he afraid, perhaps, that it will ask how and why the government has come to value the destruction of Jewish communities over the development of the Land of Israel?

Article (http://web.israelinsider.com/Views/7744.htm)

[Seraph]

I don't buy it.

Maybe some police officer used inappropriate language and called a female settler 'a whore' or some other inexcusable word. The officer or officers should be severely disciplined.

If any officer touched female protesters while removing them by force (we all saw the pictures) that is not automatically sexual harassment. However, I believe each case should be investigated and if there is evidence of any wrong doing the police officer in question should be punished according to the law. A public inquiry which is going to just turn into a political circus is not the way to go. There are other ways to conduct investigations in matters like these.

The accusations alone are serious enough, no need to make things worse by turning this into a circus. This is why the police usually try to have enough female officers on the scene to take care of female protesters. But the fact that there were male policemen who removed those female protesters doesn't suddenly turn this country into Sudan where the authorities are sent to rape defenseless women and children.

Emotions are running high and I'm getting the feeling that people are jumping the gun here. Don't get me wrong, any allegations should be properly investigated. But for the most part these men, who had to take a lot of abuse from those peaceful, defenseless settlers, performed their duty admirably. It is the most difficult thing in the world to face screaming, kicking, stone-throwing protesters and try to remove them from the scene without anyone getting hurt. The Israeli police deserves our respect, not this guilty before proven innocent stuff.

If some of these protesters made up some of the things the police are being accused of, it will not surprise me. It would not be the first time. Accusations don't automatically make someone guilty of a crime. Let's see the evidence. If any of the accusations turn out to be true I'll be the first to demand the guy's head on a pole. But until then the brave men and women of the police deserve their day in court.

The settler movement have disseminated all sorts of outrageous accusations in the passed year or so. Settlers have compared the Israeli government to the Nazi regime. Now, that sort of propagandist dishonesty causes me to doubt whether anything the settlers say nowadays has any connection with reality. Now people who call soldiers and police Nazis and who throw stones on police, or as we saw in Gaza, even went so far as to throw dangerous chemicals at the police, have a questionable idea of truth and justice. Frankly I'm beginning to doubt whether there is anything they won't do in order to hurt the government and to have their way.

Like I said, let's wait till all the facts are out. No need to start threads about accusations that haven't been proven yet. When we see indictments, we can get all riled up.

This is a delicate matter and should not be used cynically for political purposes.

[minusthejihad]

And the same can be said the other way around. Police and disengagement officials said that settlers poured "acid" on them during the Gaza withdrawal and it was broadcast around the world instantly and everyone thought the settlers were guilty right away. Now we find out it was all lies. So this works both ways.

[Seraph]

And the same can be said the other way around. Police and disengagement officials said that settlers poured "acid" on them during the Gaza withdrawal and it was broadcast around the world instantly and everyone thought the settlers were guilty right away. Now we find out it was all lies. So this works both ways.

The chemical burns were very real. The fact that it wasn't acid, but detergents or something doesn't change a thing. But forget the chemicals, whatever they were (it could be chicken soup for all I care). Protesters have no right to raise their hands against the police. They can protest peacefully. They can shout, they can resist, they can write whatever message they want to get across. Throwing rocks, dirt and anything else they get their hands on is outside of what can be called their democratic right to protest.

Rocks that can take an eye out, are not defended by their right to free speech.

The authorities were very careful with the language they used when it came to the settlers. Hell, they said it was painful to face the salt of the earth, their brothers and sisters. Senior police and military people said on many occasions that it pained them to have to remove these people from their homes and that they felt their pain. With only one exception that I know of which made the headlines of some senior police officer who spoke against the settlers, and who was disciplined for those remarks.

[minusthejihad]

Dude, if someone came to my house right now to unlawfully evict me, I'd throw a lot more than rocks. Especially, if my government had already failed me and undemocratically decided to do whats best for our enemies instead of their own people.

[minusthejihad]

Look, I'm not even religious, nor do I generally like our religious people. I definately don't agree with many of our religious laws created by the very same people. But what I like least of all are people <edited by moderator> who get offended when you refer to them as Jews because they would rather be called "Israelis" and relate more to Israeli Arabs than to the people who help continue our religion into the future.

[Seraph]

Dude, if someone came to my house right now to unlawfully evict me, I'd throw a lot more than rocks. Especially, if my government had already failed me and undemocratically decided to do whats best for our enemies instead of their own people.

Dude, if the democratically elected government decides that you have to be evicted for whatever reason, and it is approved by the Knesset, and by the Supreme Court, then you will be evicted.

And you know what else dude? You could even throw your mother at the police, it wouldn't make your actions legal or defensible. Either Israel is a democratic country where the rule of law still applies, or it is no better than the PA where everyone does whatever the hell they want and where everyone carries a gun and decides which laws apply to him and which don't.

[minusthejihad]

Dude, if the democratically elected government decides that you have to be evicted for whatever reason, and it is approved by the Knesset, and by the Supreme Court, then you will be evicted.

And you know what else dude? You could even throw your mother at the police, it wouldn't make your actions legal or defensible. Either Israel is a democratic country where the rule of law still applies, or it is no better than the PA where everyone does whatever the hell they want and where everyone carries a gun and decides which laws apply to him and which don't.

So why no national referendum on the issue? Why did Sharon say one thing to get elected and then do the complete opposite? Where is your constitution that sets the standards from which your supreme court can use a precedent?

If thats the type of democracy you are content with, then so be it. But that's not the type of democracy many in your country believed they lived under until only recently.

[Mediocrates]

Selected brutalities from Amona

A very small sample is presented here:

* Roni Daniel, Channel Two's veteran anchorman, reported from the scene: "The policemen here are reigning blows down on the settlers, one after the other. The blows are unnecessary, they are hitting just to vent their rage. There is no need for it. The police behavior on the roofs has to be investigated. The violence here is unnecessary."

* Teenage girls said the police called them prostitutes, threatened to rape them, and touched their private parts.

* A 52 year old woman said that when a Yassam policeman took her out of a house in Amona, he placed his hand under her sweater. She slapped him in the face. Other policemen then approached her in a threatening manner, but then left her.

* An army officer, whose name is known, did not allow an ambulance to enter Amona.

* Even Magen David Adom (MDA) medical teams were not immune to police attacks, even though they were wearing their orange MDA vests. On many occasions, they were brutally beaten.

* Fifteen year old Avishag S. of Haifa, who says she is still in pain and even has since developed a fever, told the following story:
"I was in house No. 6 and the Yassamnikim came in through the window. One of them pulled me up by the ear, while beating me with his club in my stomach. He didn't just hit me. He turned the stick around almost inside me and then another one kicked me in the back, and then sort of threw me out the window, giving me glass splinters in my leg. After a few seconds, my stomach began to hurt me terribly, and I just started screaming in pain, all doubled over. An army medic told me I had better go to the clinic, but a Yassamnik did not let me pass. Only when they brought me a stretcher, because I couldn't walk, did he let me go through. In the clinic, they didn't know exactly what to do.

But they saw there was a real fear of damage to an internal organ - so they called an ambulance. But throughout this time they couldn't give me any pain killer, and so I was yelling in pain the whole time. Once I was in the hospital (Shaarei Tzedek) they gave me an ultra sound and infusions and everything. That's when they finally told me that I was just a millimeter away from having an internal organ damaged, which would have meant a dangerous operation. I was also very worried that my uterus was affected, but in the end they reassured me on that as well..."

Three Knesset Members from the National Union Party were also injured. They were in Amona as observers in their capacity as representatives of the Knesset. They sustained head injuries and broken limbs. They say there is no way that this attack on them was accidental. Their faces are too well known in Israel.

Ehud Olmert has refused to institute an official investigation of what happened in Amona.

"The police only did their job", he said.

However, yesterday the Knesset voted in favor of establishing an Investigative Committee to look into last week's violence.

Olmert has used the police to silence his political opponents. Is the carnage at Amona the beginning of the end of Israel's democracy?
The following is an article which aptly describes the horrific police violence in Amona.

[minusthejihad]

As an outside observer, and as a secular Jew, I've been seeing that the secular Israelis, sabras especially, have been projecting their anger onto the settler movement and especially against religious Zionism. I've even seen reports posted in here and heard it from Sabras on this board that "the greatest threat to Israel are our settlers/extremists". If you believe that, I've got great property in Saudi Arabia to sell to you as well.

[Mediocrates]

Do we have to send helmets and body armor to the Jews of Yesha to protect them from the police?

[Mediocrates]

The chemical burns were very real. The fact that it wasn't acid, but detergents or something doesn't change a thing. But forget the chemicals, whatever they were (it could be chicken soup for all I care). Protesters have no right to raise their hands against the police. They can protest peacefully. They can shout, they can resist, they can write whatever message they want to get across. Throwing rocks, dirt and anything else they get their hands on is outside of what can be called their democratic right to protest.


What? The police never heard of tear gas? They would never wade into a crowd of Palestinians and club them down. It is an absolute shanda for any Jew to defend the tactics employed here. They were employed specifically to send a message and bloody the settlers.

[Mediocrates]

Dude, if the democratically elected government decides that you have to be evicted for whatever reason, and it is approved by the Knesset, and by the Supreme Court, then you will be evicted.

And you know what else dude? You could even throw your mother at the police, it wouldn't make your actions legal or defensible. Either Israel is a democratic country where the rule of law still applies, or it is no better than the PA where everyone does whatever the hell they want and where everyone carries a gun and decides which laws apply to him and which don't.


For about the last 300 years the rule of law has implied the LAW, not brute force. Sending riot horses against children is not the law. And just because you're drunk with power doesn't mean you understand a damn thing about justice.

[minusthejihad]

Hey I watched the brutality right here on US TV and I saw young teenagers being clubed while they were holding onto their friends. It looked bad. But I know what I saw.

[Annaliese]

What? The police never heard of tear gas? They would never wade into a crowd of Palestinians and club them down. It is an absolute shanda for any Jew to defend the tactics employed here. They were employed specifically to send a message and bloody the settlers.


Thank you!

We cannot blindly buy into what is sometimes called in the USA: lawnorder; i.e. law and order. Police misbehave: it's a fact.

[minusthejihad]

Hey Kapos were Jews too.

[Mediocrates]

And let's get radical for minute. As someone who comes from a long line of union organizers, socialists and protestors, I have to say that most of what we take for granted as normal everyday social liberties like minimum wages and healthcare and child labor laws and antidiscrimination regulations, fair housing rules,clean food water and air, workplace safety and such were won in riots with blood in the streets because the police were 'just upholding the law'. People were set on with dogs and firehoses by the cops 'just upholding the law'.

[Seraph]

So why no national referendum on the issue? Why did Sharon say one thing to get elected and then do the complete opposite? Where is your constitution that sets the standards from which your supreme court can use a precedent?

If thats the type of democracy you are content with, then so be it. But that's not the type of democracy many in your country believed they lived under until only recently.


There was no need for a referendum, the government had the approval of the Knesset (and if people still had any legal concerns, the Supreme Court put those to rest). And all the polls showed that a referendum would have been a landslide for the withdrawal from Gaza. I can't say the same for the up-coming elections in Israel. The idea of withdrawing from large parts of the WB still has many Israelis very nervous. Hell, I don't want the government to leave the WB until things quiet down a bit and until all the security concerns are addressed.

A referendum would have been a huge costly affair and in the end after all the chaos it would have caused and the delays (which are the only reason the settlers were for a referendum - they saw the polls just like everyone else), the settlers would not have accepted the results and the country would still need to go through the pain of the disengagement. Sorry, the costs and the danger of more delays were just too great. Besides, the government doesn't need to have a referendum. I'm not even going to get into those accusations about Sharon going back on his word. He agreed to the road-map and said there would be painful concessions. That's enough for me. I don't recall the last time there was a referendum about anything in Israel. And you know there have been many difficult historic decisions taken by governments over the years.

Make no mistake, the only reason to hold a referendum was to delay the disengagement. Everyone knew how it would have turned out.


Look, I'm not even religious, nor do I generally like our religious people. I definately don't agree with many of our religious laws created by the very same people. But what I like least of all are people <edited by moderator> who get offended when you refer to them as Jews because they would rather be called "Israelis" and relate more to Israeli Arabs than to the people who help continue our religion into the future.


I don't know those people or their political views, but I have no problem with religious Jews, or religious anything. I don't have a problem with most of the religious laws and conventions in Israel. I respect anyone's religious views as long as they don't hurt someone else's rights. I don't hate the settlers either. The only settlers I know are serious, intelligent people, and I hold them in the highest respect. But the thugs we saw on tv in the Gaza withdrawal caused me great concern. Such flagrant disrespect for the law and for the men and women of the IDF and the police, should be unacceptable in a democratic society. I wouldn't trust THOSE people with ensuring the future of my religion. Thank god they don't represent all settlers, and CERTAINLY not all religious Jews.

[Seraph]

Hey Kapos were Jews too.

Out of arguments already?

[minusthejihad]

Yes, many people in history (I was simply following orders) have used that as an excuse. I'd mention a few peoples but I don't want to be censored here like in the past.

[minusthejihad]

Out of arguments already?

Huh? Guy, this isn't a debate competition for me. I'm simply stating my views, you can do what with them that you like.

[Mediocrates]

Out of arguments already?


And yet most/many of the ex-Gazans are still living in squalor with nothing, no plan, no money no hope and a government that thinks it's done with them. We wouldn't treat housepets the way you treated those men women and children. And all you've bred is yet more contempt.

[frizzer1]

Well I find myself somewhere in the middle on all this.
The settlers were encouraged to go the territories and they have been lied to,but the political reality has changed and that happens. As well if reports are true some of them have been acting badly vis a vis the paletinians,regardless of the pal provocations.
In any event we should wait for the facts if indeed there is an investigation before we start casting blame on either side.

[NewsGuy]

If any officer touched female protesters while removing them by force (we all saw the pictures) that is not automatically sexual harassment. However, I believe each case should be investigated and if there is evidence of any wrong doing the police officer in question should be punished according to the law. A public inquiry which is going to just turn into a political circus is not the way to go. There are other ways to conduct investigations in matters like these.
Sure, if it were a matter of an isolated case of threats of rape or excessive force, maybe an individual investigation would be warranted. But in this case we know that the acting Prime Minister instructed the army and police force to smash the skulls of men, women and children, and to otherwise act with maximum brutality. This is a widespread phenomenon involving the country’s top politician. Of course there should be a formal inquiry.

And, as for politicizing this brutal attack, we know that it was ordered in the first place for political gain by Olmert. He is campaigning under a Leftist platform, part of which is to forcefully expel Jews from Jewish land to create Jew-free zones for the Palestinians.

Let's see what the inquiry exposes.



The accusations alone are serious enough, no need to make things worse by turning this into a circus. This is why the police usually try to have enough female officers on the scene to take care of female protesters. But the fact that there were male policemen who removed those female protesters doesn't suddenly turn this country into Sudan where the authorities are sent to rape defenseless women and children.
Nobody said that the problem was male policemen simply being present at the scene. The problem alleged here is a pattern of sexual abuse and threats of rape, not to mention the attempted murder of Jewish children by the police.



But for the most part these men, who had to take a lot of abuse from those peaceful, defenseless settlers, performed their duty admirably. It is the most difficult thing in the world to face screaming, kicking, stone-throwing protesters and try to remove them from the scene without anyone getting hurt. The Israeli police deserves our respect, not this guilty before proven innocent stuff.
Not true. The police behavior was shameful at best and criminal at worst. This was a complete failure to the point that it sure does seem to be premeditated violence on the part of the government.

There are many ways to evacuate people without causing hundreds of life-threatening injuries. If this would have happened in a Western country, the perpetrators would have been charged with crimes against humanity.


Settlers have compared the Israeli government to the Nazi regime. Now, that sort of propagandist dishonesty causes me to doubt whether anything the settlers say nowadays has any connection with reality. Now people who call soldiers and police Nazis and who throw stones on police, or as we saw in Gaza, even went so far as to throw dangerous chemicals at the police, have a questionable idea of truth and justice. Frankly I'm beginning to doubt whether there is anything they won't do in order to hurt the government and to have their way.
Nobody accused the police of Nazi-style genocide, but it is a sad fact that forcefully expelling Jewish men, women, and children from their homes with the use of machine guns and police dogs is reminiscent of some of the Nazis' acts. I wouldn't take the comparison further than that, but those acts alone are enough to turn my stomach and point out that the Israeli government engaged in ethnic cleansing.


Like I said, let's wait till all the facts are out. No need to start threads about accusations that haven't been proven yet. When we see indictments, we can get all riled up.
I don't think that the point is to get riled up. The goal is to expose the truth behind the use of excessive force, hold the criminals (if any) accountable, and act to prevent future abuses.

[Seraph]

I don't think that the point is to get riled up. The goal is to expose the truth behind the use of excessive force, hold the criminals (if any) accountable, and act to prevent future abuses.

It doesn't seem to me like you're interested in the truth at all.
You've already made up your mind. In your twisted views, you already KNOW that Olmert ordered the murder or rape of women and girls. So the police officers are already guilty, Olmert is already guilty, and hell, Israel is a third world police state.

Well, you know what, with that kind of detachment from reality it's no wonder some of those who opposed the disengagement are willing to make these kinds of outrageous accusations. Thank god these settlers are only a small minority in Israel...

Are you even listening to what you're saying anymore?


But in this case we know that the acting Prime Minister instructed the army and police force to smash the skulls of men, women and children, and to otherwise act with maximum brutality. This is a widespread phenomenon involving the country’s top politician.

Yeah, you're just looking for the truth alright. Your rhetoric is becoming more and more like the Palestinians with every passing day.

[frizzer1]

But in this case we know that the acting Prime Minister instructed the army and police force to smash the skulls of men, women and children, and to otherwise act with maximum brutality.

Link please.

[Womble]

I don't buy it.
Me neither. It appears to me that the settlers are borrowing a typical Palestinian PR stunt: mount a pile of false accusations, demand a big noisy public investigation, salvage one or two real (but very minor) abuses in the process and proceed to parade them all over the media. Coming from the crowd routinely comparing their situation to ethnic cleansing and the Holocaust, it just doesn't sound trustworthy.

Mediocrates- tear gas isn't a silver bullet. Some people (especially those who are drunk, drugged or psychotic) have a high resistance to it. Many could come prepared (a wet cloth over your face will largely save you from the effects, and sniffing onion also helps). Plus it is weather dependent. I've known a guy who was a Givati officer, and his detachment was assigned a few MAGAVniks (border policemen) with tear gas grenades to remove a stone throwing crowd from their way. They fired the grenades, a minute later the wind had changed, and the Givati had to quickly hop onto the jeep and get out of there before the gas reached THEM instead of the rioters. He was so angry he had those MAGAVniks run on foot in front of the jeep all the way back to the base.

[Annaliese]

Why are Jewish groups suppressing news of Israeli government brutality? (http://web.israelinsider.com/Views/7776.htm)

After the article per se, is the following letter written by 17-year-old Yaakov Tessler of Jerusalem:


Dear Central Commander Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh,

Peace and blessing.

I feel an obligation to turn to you, as one who is entrusted with the values of the army and the rule of law on the one hand, and with Jewish values and the Torah's commandments, on the other.

I would like to address the events that occurred during the evacuation of the nine houses in Amona.

As one who did not merit being in Gush Katif during the evacuation there, I felt a deep solidarity with the protest actions of the Gush Katif residents. I felt that this time, I could express my feelings by protesting. I therefore arrived happily in Amona, with the understanding and knowledge that there was still an appeal pending to the Supreme Court that might allow the houses to be evacuated voluntarily, without a struggle. My heart told me that the Supreme Court would certainly agree to this option, but I still decided to come in order to be certain that the houses would not be evacuated without the required protest against such an act of evacuating homes or communities in the Land of Israel.

To my surprise, the Supreme Court preferred the forced evacuation, rather than having it done by agreement.

I prepared myself for the evacuation, with the intention of undergoing this event - the evacuation of houses from the Land of Israel and a struggle - together with the cream of the crop of Israeli youth, struggling for their Land and inheritance with dignity and valor. I never dreamt or imagined that I would soon undergo such humiliation, murderous punches and injuries (my eye was saved from permanent damage only by miracle) by the policemen of the State of Israel, over whom you, as the Region Commander, commanded.

I hereby declare that I held nothing in my hand, I threw nothing, I did not fight, I did not hit and I did not curse anyone. I sat in one of the houses with the understanding that very soon, I would be asked to leave, in accordance with a political decision and court order.

As I was sitting in the house, a group of Yassam police entered and did not make any request for us to leave. Instead, they simply started hitting us with clubs, very forcefully and painfully, as if those sitting in front of them were criminals and murderers. When I tried to go out, and despite my telling the Yassamniks that I was going on my own and that I didn't need to be dragged or hit, they struck me for no reason: They smashed my head against the wall, kicked me in my back, threw me on the floor, and hit me very hard with their clubs on my head, eyes and nose, to the point where I was severely and painfully injured.

All this occurred as I was asking them to be allowed to leave the house.

Up to this very minute, the feelings of dread and fear pursue me, entirely shaking up my feelings towards the law, the police, the army, the Supreme Court, and all the government institutions.

I would be very happy if your honor would respond to this letter, which is written from the depths of my heart.

Why, when you saw these things happening to me and my friends (there are tens of testimonies), did you not intervene and stop the evacuation? Why did you not tell the truth when you were interviewed?

How could you have planned and approved such a sensitive mission as the evacuation of parts of the Land of Israel with orders for such terrible violence against the most idealistic youths in Israeli society?

I am sad to say to you, General Naveh, that it will be hard for me to forget or forgive those who injured me so severely, or to those who commanded those forces - unless I receive a reasonable explanation and a public apology from all the elements who hurt me and my friends with no justification. It is very unfortunate that precisely in the year before my enlistment in the army, and after having received an invitation to apply for the Israel Air Force pilots' course and for the elite Sayeret Matkal unit, this is the slap in the face that I and my friends receive.

Enclosed is my photograph, taken after the police battle in evacuating me from the house in Amona.

Signed with sorrow,
with thanks and blessing,
Yaakov Tessler

[genghis_tom]

Hey I watched the brutality right here on US TV and I saw young teenagers being clubed while they were holding onto their friends. It looked bad. But I know what I saw.
Does anyone have any actual pictures of these brutal events? I would also like to say, "I know what I saw." And also to see if Mr. Yakov Tessler is isolated, one of Womble's minor abuses.

[Annaliese]

Does anyone have any actual pictures of these brutal events? I would also like to say, "I know what I saw." And also to see if Mr. Yakov Tessler is isolated, one of Womble's minor abuses.

Tessler is NOT an isolated account. Please do a search: thank you.

It is difficult to find pictures because the media seems to continue to print ones showing police on horseback riding into crowds, however, I did find this one online and, like minus, I did see the brutality on American television:

http://www.ynetnews.com/PicServer2/20122005/719411/343_wa.jpg

[Mediocrates]

Pictures of Amona from Sultan Knish

http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/

[genghis_tom]

Tessler is NOT an isolated account. Please do a search: thank you.

So it seems.
You know, there are some things that you know are going to be burned in your memory for a long time. ugh.
The only thing they didn't do was pull a Napoleon and use grapeshot. http://www.napoleonguide.com/pixs_whiff.htm

[Annaliese]

So it seems.
You know, there are some things that you know are going to be burned in your memory for a long time. ugh.
The only thing they didn't do was pull a Napoleon and use grapeshot.http://www.napoleonguide.com/pixs_whiff.htm

This is very sad. It reminds me of the way police behave here. So: Israel has become Americanized? :(

[minusthejihad]

Besides the pictures of unarmed teenagers (especially girls) standing together and trembling in fear as riot horses and fully shielded policemen approach them to club them, I thought this one with the subtitle spoke many words:

http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20060201/capt.jrl12402011321.mideast_israel_palestinians_ou tpost__jrl124.jpg

Knesset Member and Brigadier General Effie Eitam, awarded the Medal of Honor in the Yom Kippur War

"MK Effi Eitam, who was wounded during the violence, said "30 years I fought on the battle fields, and I never believed that I would be wounded by a Jewish policeman while I was doing my duty as a member of Knesset.""

[Annaliese]

Link please.



"I promise you, the evening before the events in Amona, Olmert held consultations in which he ordered the police and the army to break our heads and our legs. He is the messenger, he and no other. A commission of inquiry is the only solution for the unity of the people. Olmert fears a commission of inquiry because it could put him in prison," protest organizer Pinchas Wallerstein of Israel's Yesha Settlers Council said at today's rally.

"The Amona evacuation was a horrid scene to watch on television," said protester Andrew Greenberg, who described himself to WND as an "extreme leftist and no friend of settlers."

"Any ordinary viewer could easily see the police were clearly brutalizing the protesters big time. It's unquestionable," Goldberg said.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48686

[NewsGuy]

Yes, not only did Wallerstein report that, but several reports in the Israeli press in Hebrew also confirmed that the instructions came form Olmert.

Here are some interesting quotes and links. The first one just adds emphasis to Annaliese's post above:

During the demolitions, horse-mounted police, water cannons and specially trained riot officers faced off against hundreds of protesters who massed in Amona in hopes of halting the efforts.

Knesset Member Effie Eitam evacuated after suffering head injury in clash with Israeli forces (courtesy: Israel National News)

Israeli television broadcast live footage of demonstrators, including women and children, being dragged and beaten by soldiers. Teenagers with bloody noses and head wounds were seen being removed from the scene. Police were videotaped using batons and gas canisters to clear the area of demonstrators.

More than 300 protesters were treated in makeshift first aid tents. At least 70 were evacuated to Jerusalem hospitals with moderate-to-serious injuries.

Three Israeli nationalist lawmakers, Effie Eitam, Benny Elon and Aryeh Eldad were seriously wounded in the clashes. Eitam suffered a head injury after being pushed by soldiers. He was undergoing neurological tests in Jerusalem. Elon was injured after reportedly being pushed off a bulldozer by troops. Eldad sustained an arm fracture after being shoved to the ground by police.

"I promise you, the evening before the events in Amona, Olmert held consultations in which he ordered the police and the army to break our heads and our legs. He is the messenger, he and no other. A commission of inquiry is the only solution for the unity of the people. Olmert fears a commission of inquiry because it could put him in prison," protest organizer Pinchas Wallerstein of Israel's Yesha Settlers Council said at today's rally.

"The Amona evacuation was a horrid scene to watch on television," said protester Andrew Greenberg, who described himself to WND as an "extreme leftist and no friend of settlers."

"Any ordinary viewer could easily see the police were clearly brutalizing the protesters big time. It's unquestionable," Goldberg said.

Article (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48686)


What really transpired in Amona: Witnesses and officials call for inquiry
By David Bedein February 2, 2006

Meanwhile, as the IDF and the police sent more reinforcements to Amona, they indiscriminately attacked Jews walking on the road and pulled tens of young people out of cars and beat them with their batons.

When the police horses arrived, the teenagers sat peaceably, the horses charged them, and police continued to beat everyone in sight, aiming for the heads of demonstrators with their batons. When the police entered the buildings, the people inside all sat down, offering no resistance, and were still beaten.

All this was filmed, and Israeli TV Channels One and Ten showed the Israeli police beating on the head young teenagers who offered no resistance.

The MKs did acknowledge that young people responded with chants and did stone the police horses. In the words of MK Ariel, "we condemn anyone in our community who used any kind of violence, but we wonder if and when the Israeli Minister of Internal Security will have anything to say about the wanton brutality of the police officers under his command."

Meanwhile, Nachi Eyal, the secretary of the National Union Party, described how his son was beaten unconscious by a policeman who wore no identification tag, and how he watched tens of young people being clubbed on the head while they were in a kneeling position.

Nachi mentioned how his son, Yechiam, stopped breathing in the ambulance that brought him to Hadassah hospital, how Yechiam was near death, and only regained consciousness the next morning.

Why did all this transpire?

MK Tzvi Hendel revealed what he had learned as to why Acting PM Olmert had adopted an uncompromising stand in Amonah, which could have been resolved with no violence whatsoever.

MK Hendel reported that he had received documentation that that Eyal Arad, the PR advisor to the Prime Minister's office, had devised a campaign strategy for Olmert which would promote the notion that residents of Judea and Samaria as "more hated than Hamas," which led Olmert to describe the Jews in Amonah as the Jewish Hamas, following Wednesday's confrontation.

MK Hendel told the media that he Arad had advised Olmert to foster an image as a "leader who stands firm in the face of the settlers," and that this would buttress support for him in the polls, instead of forcing Olmert to address the issue of the Hamas electoral victory and the continuing shower of unanswered missile attacks from Gaza.

Article (http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Security/7708.htm)






Mass Protest Against Police Violence in Downtown Jerusalem

Video clips of policemen beating unarmed demonstrators will be shown on giant screens at the rally this evening.

[...]

A shaken-up spokesperson for Amona said from the scene, "People are walking around with blood gushing from their heads... The police abused girls, clubbed people in the head, smashed them in their stomach after they were tied... It's simply a disgrace that this is Israel Police and the body that is supposed to enforce our laws."

Article (http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=97951)


And, in case anyone thinks this was an individual problem with a few wayward police officers. It was not. These were the official instructions:

Mofaz to IDF troops: Zero tolerance when facing Jewish rioters in Hebron, Amona

Israel Defense Forces soldiers must have zero tolerance when facing Jewish rioters in next week's evacuation of the illegal West Bank outpost in Amona and the wholesale market in Hebron, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said on Tuesday.

Mofaz told IDF soldiers set to participate in the evacuations, "we must act with zero tolerance against rioters..."

Article (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/674211.html)



I think that it's pretty obvious what happened in Amona.

[NewsGuy]

It doesn't seem to me like you're interested in the truth at all.

Hmmm... Between the two of us, I'm the one supporting an independent inquiry to determine the facts. You're the one who is against it, so it sure seems to me that you are the one who wants to stop the truth from coming out. Why? What are you really afraid of?


Well, you know what, with that kind of detachment from reality it's no wonder some of those who opposed the disengagement are willing to make these kinds of outrageous accusations. Thank god these settlers are only a small minority in Israel...
I don't think that I'm "detached from reality" at all, in light of the TV broadcasts, photos, and eye-witness accounts that clearly show the attempts to murder 3 members of Knesset, as well as hundreds of men, women, and children of Amona.

But when you say "these settlers," it leads me to understand you a little bit better than in your first post. It reminds me of those who start sentences with "These Jews..." Very telling.

Unfortunately, you and others who hold your views, have done your best to dehumanize anyone who believes that Jews have the right to live in the Jewish homeland. You and "these Leftists" have created an irreparable split in Israeli society, the result of which is evident in today's poll that shows that 42% of nationalists believe that a civil war could take place in Israel. Do you feel proud of that?


Yeah, you're just looking for the truth alright. Your rhetoric is becoming more and more like the Palestinians with every passing day.
First, the ones who are actively working to provide the Palestinians with their national dream of ethnically cleansing Israel of its Jewish residents are the same people who agree with your views. That certainly doesn't include me.

Second, to be honest, we know that the IDF should be doing something useful to stop the Palestinian Kassams and weapons smuggling from Egypt, instead of clubbing Jewish girls in Amona.

Third, if the hypocritical Olmert administration is so eager to destroy what it calls "illegal buildings," why then does it not send its troops and police to remove illegally built Palestinian homes all over Israel?

[Seraph]

Two points for Newsguy:

1) When I said 'these settlers' in that sentence you quoted, I meant literally that. 'These settlers' who threw stones and were seen on television. You know, the ones we're talking about here.

Don't start calling me a bigot and act all indignant now. If it makes it easier for you, in future when I say 'these settlers' or 'these protesters' you should take it as meaning just that. No more and no less. I'm just referring to the small group of people who participated in the most violent events we all saw on our television screens. Not ALL settlers! Not all Religous Jews! Not all Jews!!! Just those settlers we saw in the events which led to this latest uproar. THOSE settlers.

OK? :)

2) Bringing a whole list of seperate incidents, and certainly a lot of quotes from people who simply expess their opinions does not prove in any way, shape, or form, that Olmert ordered people to be hurt or killed. It certainly doesn't prove that the allegations of attempted rape, or threats of rape are true.

It only proves that you have absolutely no evidence to support those claims (that police sexually assaulted anyone or that they were under orders to do that or other 'brutalities').

And I'll repeat what I said, thank god these extremists we saw on television, these settlers who clashed with police, are only a small minority. I hope they keep this up all the way till the elections so Kadima will get even more seats in the Knesset.

[Annaliese]

Two points for Newsguy:

Sorry, but any member can post and I want to comment on your 2nd point.

Did you not read any of the sources? A fair investigation will bring out the truth ... which is obvious from viewing the pictures posted here as well as from viewing the police brutality on television.

The polls still show your wish that Kadima gain more seats in the Knesset will come true. Be careful what you wish for, as they say. Kadima will turn Israel into an even smaller country with Jerusalem as its shared capitol, but then again, perhaps that is your wish as well.

[Seraph]

I checked out most of the links people provided, though I didn't take the time to watch every single film, and I have to say I didn't find one shred of proof that even suggests that there were cases of attempted rape, or orders to commit 'brutalities' against the settlers.

There is absolutely no evidence that Olmert ordered the 'attempted murder' of any settler in Amona or elsewhere.

There is no evidence that the police are guilty of attempted murder, attempted rape, or any other brutalities.

All I see are some disturbing pictures of protesters clashing with police and being removed (by force in some cases), and remarks by people who were engaged in those clashes and who express their opinions about what happened.

[frizzer1]

"I promise you, the evening before the events in Amona, Olmert held consultations in which he ordered the police and the army to break our heads and our legs. He is the messenger, he and no other. A commission of inquiry is the only solution for the unity of the people. Olmert fears a commission of inquiry because it could put him in prison," protest organizer Pinchas Wallerstein of Israel's Yesha Settlers Council said at today's rally.

If this is true then Olmert is a disgrace to israel.



the MKs did acknowledge that young people responded with chants and did stone the police horses. In the words of MK Ariel, "we condemn anyone in our community who used any kind of violence,

If this is true the police had a right to respond but was their response justified.

Hard to understand when the gaza withdrawal was accomplished with such sensitivity,and then this.
Which reflects the true face of Israel then?
Makes you want to cry doesn't it?

[Roland]

Once there was a virus-link in this thread ...

[Annaliese]

Thank you, Roland. By the way, it has been reported as spam already.

[Roland]

:) ;)

[Annaliese]

It's gone now, Roland. Now it looks like you're talking to me: LOL.

(thank you, mods, for acting so quickly)

[Roland]

It's gone now, Roland. Now it looks like you're talking to me: LOL.

(thank you, mods, for acting so quickly)
LOOOOOL!

Very Good. All credits go to Free-AV on my side.

[Annaliese]

Yes, all credit to Roland! By all means. :)

Meanwhile, back to the topic ... anyone?

[Leon]

I originally posted the following here (http://www.israelforum.com/board/showthread.php?t=9727). Please excuse the spamming, but I think as many people as possible should read this:

> 12th Shevat - Shabbos Parshas BeShalach
>
> AMONA
>
> I have been back from Israel for just two days, and many people have
spoken
> to me and asked me questions about Amona. I find it quite disturbing how
> many people have taken sides with the media, and justified police
actions
> against the protesters. However, what is more disturbing is how little
> people know about what really happened last week.
>
> I am in the middle of writing a full account of the events in Amona, but
it
> won't be ready for a while. In the meantime, I feel a sense of urgency
in
> shedding some light on the event.
>
> First let me tell you about Amona.
> Amona is a small village with about 40 residents and is located 30
minutes
> north of Jerusalem, in the Binyamin area. It is beautiful, surrounded by
> olive trees and rolling hills. In fact, the hill where HaShem showed
Avraham
> Avinu all the land he was destined to inherit, is a few kilometres from
> Amona. Amona has a Shul, a Mikveh, a goat farm, two water towers, a
> kindergarten and a children's playground. The people of Amona live in
small
> caravans and were getting ready to move into their newly built houses,
which
> now lie in ruins.
>
> It is important to get the facts straight. I was there. I saw what
happened
> with my own eyes. The media completely twisted the true events of Amona.
>
>
> FACTS:
>
> - The whole confrontation could have been avoided - if the police wanted
it
> to. The police did not have to let all the protesters in to Amona (like
in
> Gush Katif), nor did they have to say which day they were going to
destroy
> the homes. People would not have camped out in Amona for more than a few
> days, the police could have come two weeks later, and destroyed Amona in
the
> middle of the night. There would have been a small protest that could
have
> been controlled in a peaceful way.
>
> - The majority of people who came to Amona were under the age of
eighteen
> and were not looking for a fight. The days leading up to the clash, were
> full of singing, dancing, learning Torah, simply hanging out and having
a
> good time. It was more like a festival than a protest.
>
> - The majority of protesters were sitting inside the houses when the
police
> arrived, They were unarmed and had no intention of using violence. They
were
> beaten for no reason, they pleaded for police to stop, but they refused.
>
> - Contrary to media reports, the violence was not started by the settler
> youth. The first act of violence was by baton-swinging policeman mounted
on
> horses, charging a crowd of people who were sitting on the ground and
> singing songs. Then, about 2000 police marched through a crowd, batons
> extended, smashing anyone and everyone in their way. They were followed
by
> another 4000 police, all carrying wooden clubs or metal batons.
>
> - The Torah demands a person to protect fellow Jews if they are in
danger or
> being abused - even if the abuse is being carried out by a Jew. What
would
> you do, if you saw your 15 year old daughter or sister, being beaten on
the
> head with a metal baton? Just stand there? Give the policeman a hug and
> sympathise with him? Or, do anything in your power to stop him?
>
> - No rocks were brought on the rooftops to throw at police. There were
> cinder blocks that were brought on to the roofs to hold down the
barbwire
> around the perimeter of the roof. Only after seeing the police
aggression
> against young kids, did some people (including myself) break the cinder
> blocks into small pieces and throw them at helmeted policeman, in order
to
> stop them beating people. In one case we actually caused the police to
> retreat and rethink their strategy.
>
> - No one anticipated the kind of violence that police used. By the end
of
> the day, more than 200 protesters were seriously injured, the most
severe
> being 15 year old boy who was beaten on his head, resulting in a coma
from a
> fractured skull.
>
> - The police did not intend on arresting anyone. They only brought two
cars
> to transport prisoners. Out of 3000 protesters only 40 were arrested.
Their
> intention was to 'teach us a lesson'.
>
>
> This protest was not about 9 houses, or Amona, or the entire West Bank
for
> that matter. We knew, from the day we got there, that we would never be
able
> to prevent the destruction of the houses. The government would bring in
> 100,000 police if it needed to. That is not why I or anyone else came to
> Amona.
> We came to defend the Land of Israel. We came to make a Kidush HaShem
(which
> I believe we did make). We came to protest against a secular Government
who
> does not care about the Biblical (Torah) rights of Jewish people to live
in
> the ENTIRE LAND OF ISRAEL.
> We came to protest Gush Katif, where people hugged and cried with
soldiers,
> earning the temporary sympathy of Israeli society. These people are now
left
> without schools for their children, they are homeless, jobless, and have
> received zero compensation from the government.
> We came to tell ourselves and the world that we will not remain silent
and
> do nothing, as our brothers and sisters lives are being ruined, as the
land
> of Israel is being destroyed and given away for political gain and as a
> victory for terror.
>
> In Amona I protested and cried many tears. I cried for the Land. I cried
for
> the wounded children. I cried for the policemen who have forgotten how
to
> cry. I cried as I watched a young girl defiantly climb to the top of a
huge
> bulldozer - only to be pulled down and beaten by three policemen
swinging
> clubs. I cried for the man who spent his entire life savings ($100,000)
on
> his home, only to see it turn to rubble in minutes. I cried after seeing
> policemen smile and laugh, despite being humiliated and being called
Nazis.
> I saw a boy being beaten by a policeman. I kicked him, as hard as I
could. I
> was beaten and dragged away.
>
> Something happened to me at that moment. As I was being held down by two
> vicious policemen, my faced pressed into the gravel, my entire being
became
> aware of something. This land is worth fighting for. It is real, and it
is
> where I belong.
>
> I will not forget, nor will I forgive.
>
> Good Shabbos,
>
> Moshe Feiglin

[Leon]

Bthw, this is not the same Moshe Fieglin of Likud fame!!

I know this guy - he is a 21 year old student from Melbourne, Australia.

[tzanchan]

I also have an eyewitness account of a hebronian pullout from a month ago--me. These poor 'women and children', mentioned above were running in the hundreds in the street, broke into the casba, and attacked any soldiers that stood in their way. While many times soldiers were able to restrain themselves from being punched in the face, having eggs and paint thrown on them, occasionally there were those with less composure. They also chucked boulders from rooves at their arab neighbors, covered their faces and called me a nazi and us soldiers as opposing the word of god. They have quite a similar philosphy to their arab neighbors, I guess thats why they are so drived to live next to them.

[Annaliese]

"Amona": What Really Transpired - Call for Commission of Investigation
By David Bedein


Six Israeli Knesset Parliament members of the National Union Party convened a press conference on Thursday evening, February 2nd, at the Beit Agron International Press Center in Jerusalem, the day after the Israeli army and Israeli police demolished nine buildings in Amona, adjacent to the Jewish community of Ofra, just north of Jerusalem.

The MK's convening the press conference were Dr. Aryeh Eldad, General Efraim Eitam, Rabbi Benny Alon, Tzvi Hendel, Uri Ariel, and Rabbi Yitzhak Levy.

Three of the Knesset Members were present at Amona during the demolition - Eldad, Eitam and Alon. Eldad and Eitam spent the night in Hadassah hospital after being trampled by police horses - Eldad with a hand fracture and Eitam with head injuries.

At their press conference, the National Union MKs announced that they had circulated a petition to all factions of the Knesset in which they called for the Knesset to authorize the creation of an extra-parliamentary commission whose task it would be to establish a non-partisan investigation into the events of Amona, to verify the facts of how and why so much violence occurred, which resulted in more than 200 teenage boys and girls in the hospital, most of whom suffered head wounds after being clubbed in the head while offering no resistance whatsoever.

From the other end of the political spectrum, endorsing the National Union's call for an official investigation was Peace Now leader and Labor MK Dr. Yuli Tamir, who told the NFC.CO.IL news service that she wanted an inquiry as to why there were hardly any casualties during the two month demolition process of the Katif and Samaria communities, and asked why there were so many casualties in one day of demolition in Amona.

An unexpected call for investigation came from MK Ahmed Tibi, the former advisor to Yassir Arafat who demanded an inquiry into why and how police horses trampled members of the Knesset.

MK Uri Ariel opened the press conference with a demand to know precisely what instructions were given to the elite Israeli commando units who were deployed at Amoneh and also demanded to know what instructions were given to the soldiers and the police by the Head of the IDF Central Command.

MK Ariel provided documentation of negotiations that the National Union MKs conducted with the government, once they understood that they had lost their legal fight to retain the nine buildings on the Amona hill.

MK Ariel provided written evidence that that the National Union MKs, with the cooperation of the Council of Judea and Samaria, had made an offer on Sunday to bring heavy equipment to Amona to move the nine buildings to the nearby community of Ofra, thereby avoiding any violent confrontation.

MK Ariel reported that the idea of moving the buildings received the encouragement of President Katzav, Defence Minister Mofaz, and Attorney General Mazuz, all of whom communicated on Monday morning to Acting Prime Minister Olmert that the idea would be legal, and it would stave off any confrontation.

Later that day on Monday, Olmert met with the leaders of the Council of Judea and Samaria, yet stood firm that the buildings would have to be destroyed, saying that he was doubtful that any kind of engineering firm could move the nine buildings.

The Council then dispatched former MK Hanan Porat to meet again with Attorney General Mazuz with the request that it be given one week to move the buildings, and that if they could not move them, then the council itself would demolish them.

On Tuesday, Israel Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubenstein issued a restraining order against any destruction of the houses, recommending that the court grant the Council the one week requested to move the buildings.

However, Olmert appealed the restraining order to the Israel Supreme Court, which met in special session under a three justice panel on Wednesday morning, when it considered the Council's request to grant a them a week's time to move the building.

However, the two justices who sat alongside Rubenstein, both of whom had always been critical of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, ruled, two to one, with Rubenstein dissenting, at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday , to reject the petition for any delay in the demolition of the nine buildings.

MK Eldad reported that, with the decision in hand to demolish the buildings, he determined he would "go to Amona together with MK Alon and MK Eitam, and requested that army and police delay the demolition by a few hours", so that they could "negotiate to get hundreds of people out of the way".

In the words of MK Eitam, "We wanted to do what we did in Gush Katif- to act as responsible mediators between the armed forces and the civilians who were present, so as to avert any unnecessary violence".

However, MK Alon reported, the IDF and the police were not willing to listen, and, instead, immediately dispatched troops and police, many of whom were on horseback, to move in on the hundreds of people in Amona who were inside, outside and on top of each of the nine buildings.

By the time that MK's Eitam, Alon and Eldad arrived on the scene, no commanders were there - only soldiers and police who were beginning to beat teenagers who were in their way.

MK Eitam observed that :"in Gush Katif, we had commanders to speak with, and we were in constant touch with the Prime Minister and his cabinet members, to avoid a catastrophe".

This time, Eitam said. "we had no one to speak with. The IDF Commander in Chief and the Commander of the IDF Central Command were not there, and no one was available to speak with at the office of the Prime Minister.However, as members of Knesset, as democratically elected leaders of this community, we were singled out for attack, with police horses that charged us, and which caused the hundreds of people there to be without any leader and without anyone to calm things down"

In MK Eldad's words, by "the attack on the Knesset leaders early in the day, tdeprived the people of any factor that could act as a restraining force".

Meanwhile, as the IDF and the police sent more reinforcements to Amona, they indiscriminately attacked Jews walking on the road and pulled tens of young people out of cars and beat them with their batons.

When the police horses arrived, the teenagers sat peaceably, the horses charged them, and police continued to beat everyone in sight, aiming for the heads of demonstrators with their batons. When the police entered the buildings, the people inside all sat down, offering no resistance, and were still beaten.

All this was filmed, and Israeli TV Channels One and Ten showed the Israeli police beating young teenagers on the head who offered no resistance.

The MK's did acknowledge that young people responded with chants and did stone the police horses. In the words of MK Ariel, "we condemn anyone in our community who used any kind of violence, and we wonder if and when the Israeli Minister of Internal Security will have anything to say about the wanton brutality of the police officers under his command."

Meanwhile, Nachi Eyal, the secretary of the National Union Party, described how his son was beaten unconscious by a policeman who wore no identification tag, and how he watched tens of young people being clubbed on the head while they were in a kneeling position.

Nachi mentioned how his son, Yechiam, stopped breathing in the ambulance that brought him to Hadassah hospital, how Yechiam was near death, and how Yechiam suddenly regained consciousness the next morning,

Why did all this transpire?

MK Tzvi Hendel revealed what he had learned as to why Acting PM Olmert had adopted an uncompromising stand in Amona, which could have been resolved with no violence whatsoever.

MK Hendel reported that he had received documentation that that Eyal Arad, the PR advisor to the Prime Minister's office, had devised a campaign strategy for Olmert which would promote the notion that residents of Judea and Samaria were "more hated than Hamas", which led Olmert to describe the Jews in Amona as the Jewish Hamas, following Wednesday's confrontation.

MK Hendel told the media that Arad had advised Olmert to foster an image as a "leader who stands firm in the face of the settlers", and that this would buttress support for him in the polls, instead of forcing Olmert to address the issue of the Hamas electoral victory and the continuing shower of unanswered missile attacks from Gaza.

It is unprecedented in Israel for the government to destroy a building rather than to reach such a compromise as the one proposed by the residents of Amona.

Perhaps for that reason, the MK's from the National Union Party concluded their press conference by announcing that as of this coming week, they would lead a tour of thousands of unauthorized and illegal homes that Israeli Arabs and Israeli Bedouins have constructed in the Negev and the Galilee regions of Israel.

http://israelbehindthenews.com/Archives/Feb-03-06.htm

[Annaliese]

Knesset Begins Inquiry into Amona Violence (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=99308)

The Knesset Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into the violence at Amona has convened for its first meeting. It will call Olmert, Mofaz and others to testify - but cannot force them to appear.


Committee Chairman Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) said that the purpose of today's meeting was to determine the manner in which it would function and how testimonies would be heard. The first testimonies will be heard on Wednesday.

The committee is to investigate the violence at the destruction of nine homes in Amona, near Ofrah, on Feb. 1. Police were filmed using brutal violence against hundreds of youthful protestors, over 200 of whom were injured and taken to hospitals for treatment. The committee will also investigate charges that some protestors themselves used violence, as well as the orders given to the police to employ brutal force, and the government decisions that prevented any form of compromise.

pictured above: Yaakov Tessler, injured at Amona. Read here his letter to IDF Central Commander Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh.

MK Effie Eitam (National Union), who was hospitalized overnight with head wounds after being injured by police at the Amona destruction, caused a mini-storm this past weekend when he said that parents should share blame for the events of Amona "by sending their children to Amona unsupervised."

Eitam later explained to Arutz-7's Ruti Avraham that he views the youth at Amona as having "wonderful motivation, pure intentions and a feeling of mission, all based on the education that they received... At Amona, we were at the extreme edge of our permitted protest... If, Heaven forbid, someone would have been killed, such as the boy who was in critical condition [and who has since recovered], or a policeman, things would be very different now. In future events of this nature, it would be good if parents, rabbis and politicians would also be there. Even motivation and vitality have to have limits and guidance."

MK Tzvi Hendel, Eitam's party colleague, later said, "Our youth is wonderful, and whoever was in Amona could be a shining example for the entire State of Israel."

Eitam added, "It must be clear that the entire Amona situation was created by the [Acting] Prime Minister who used policemen and youth to advance his personal interests. My main criticism is pointed at him, and I will make this clear at the Parliamentary committee of inquiry."

At last week's session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Olmert and Eitam exchanged barbs regarding Amona. When Olmert walked in, Eitam said, "I'm surprised you didn't come with police mounted on horses [as in Amona]." Olmert said, "It's because I heard that you were coming without weapons."

Committee members include Danny Yatom (Labor), his brother Ehud Yatom (Likud), Uri Ariel (National Union), Matan Vilnai (Labor), and Shteinitz. However, because Olmert has announced that he will suspend the committee's work the day after the elections, a small four-MK team will hold marathon sessions in order to complete the work before the elections. The four are Shteinitz, Ariel, Vilnai, and MK Ilan Shalgi (formerly of Shinui, now of the Arrow party).

Among the witnesses to be summoned are Olmert, Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, and Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi.

The committee does not have the authority to compel witnesses to appear, and can only issue a rebuke to those who refuse to do so.

[Shohad]

Yes, the entire thing was a political twist. It could and should have been avoided. Olmert is an irresponsible person and his handling with Amona borders with criminal activity.

However, no report or sentimental letter will replace the extensive documentation on video that shows cruelty on BOTH sides. The policemen were victims themselves and are not evil beasts as they are being portrayed.

[Mediocrates]

Well what do YOU think riot control amounts to? Walk in the park?