Long a source of much lip service and very little actual policy change, the “price tag” attacks appear to have reached a critical mass today in Israel, as dozens of settlers attacked an Israeli Army base in the occupied West Bank, destroying vehicles and setting fires.
Announcing that the attack “crossed all the lines,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised retaliation in a big way, saying he would “fight with all my power as the prime minister” and saying that he has asked Shin Bet and the Defense Ministry to draft a plan to “take care of the rioters.”
The “price tag” attack movement started as a way of protesting the Israeli government’s halfhearted efforts to negotiate with the Palestinians, as the settler movement opposes Palestinian statehood. Even though no talks have been held in over a year the attacks have escalated, and gone beyond the usual tactics of burning mosques or chopping down olive trees and escalated into attacking the Israeli military itself.
The escalation is something Israeli intelligence officials have been warning the military about for quite some time, but while vandalizing a Christian cemetery was worth a bit of public criticism, it is only now that the military seems to be getting seriously and directly effected that the Netanyahu government seems serious about tackling the issue.
THIS is what is going to bring the Netanyahoo coalition down. When the far, far right wingers start tearing down the establishment run by the far, far right wingers you know you've lost control – and the war. You can't maintain control if the Army isn't on your side.
These "settlers" must be something special indeed to manage get themselves to the right of Bibi and Co. I guess it's a good thing they attacked a military base instead of civilians, otherwise they'd have to be classified as Terrorists(tm) and we'd be obliged to start the bombings immediately.
PURE LIP SERVICE
Israel is vote box controlled by the upper half of society, the 51% most educated, aggressive and wealthy. Surely, so expect nothing more from right-wing government then what paid actors are paid to do.
!Christian churches and Muslim mosques are meaningless. Olive trees, a source of income for Arabs are meaningless. Jewish property, including military, is sacred. As the former chief rabbi of Israel, Yosef Ovadia, infamously declared, Christians, Muslims and other non-Jews are cattle, created by G-d only to serve Jews. They have no other purpose. Evidently, it applies to their chattels too. Zionism is Racism.
i went to school in a building shared by rabbi ovadia yosef's school,.
so i can confirm this…
on a side note, take a look at his picture on line this is how most of the great rabbis in history dressed as they were free to teach and practice their religion in the muslim caliphates
It's embarrassing to get bitten by your own pit bull.
The worst traps you'll ever find yourself in in life are those you set for yourself.
Once again, notice that the Israeli government, much like the Pakistani government, didn't much care what happened as long as their facilities and equipment were left alone. Now they do.
This is amazing. Just how are they going to say that the illegal settler are anything but the real terrorist.
I feel for those who have to live with the animals which have clearly become the former people who morphed into terrorist.
Last year there were stories of the leaders looking for former military people in Europe so they could have combat trained force to help the illegal settlement movement.
What a major black eye to Israel this attack on the army base. A lawless land with people who just lost their victim card. We have met the enemy and they are us.
The lives of "others" are meaningless but mess around with Bibi's toys and THEN you'll get the horns.
As I tried to post to Ha'aretz yesterday, but got censored ahhh-gain I'll post my reply here.
Hey Bibi enough with the talk. If this attack had been done by Palestinians, the attacker's houses would be flat now. You really do understand the concept of doublethink when you go around blustering about when in fact you will continue to believe that the "Chosen People who can do no wrong" are indeed correct even when they are attacking the "Chosen People who can do no wrong".
they are so furious that they have no choice but to send the settlers a fruit basket with a strongly worded note attached.
While removing "settlers" from legitimate Israeli territory is contemptible, targeting the IDF that protects Israel from Palestinian terrorists is beneath contempt.
This is just a minor skirmish between the settlers and the Israeli government, but it is also a warning of things to come if Natanyhoo dares to dismantle any settlement in the future as a result of a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Hm I wonder if the phrase 'chickens coming home to roost' is appropriate this time around.
They attacked St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church next to Christ's baptismal site http://www.jordantimes.com/index.php?news=44295
This is getting very intresting.
Let me guess, by "retaliation in a big way" bubu netenyahoo means blowing up a bunch of Palestinians.