Far rightists evacuated from Gaza hotel
Photo: Ilan Marciano
Holy madness
Settlers get rich at the expense of the poor
It’s no secret the settlements were born in sin, outside the jurisdiction of the State of Israel, where the occupier has no right to establish colonies.
With the passage of time, the settlements built up strength and courage and collected capital and assets - illegally. Through lies and deceit, even before the courts, they said they were there for security needs, and that way robbed land from the local poor and enslaved them in their farms.
In pre-revolution Russia this class was referred to as Kulaks. Something similar was present in the southern United States before the civil war.
The occupying state thought that through cunning and trickery the whole world could be tricked. The settlers knew well where they were headed, and that the presence there was not guaranteed to last forever.
But it was worth it: They were nurtured, provided with a livelihood, given tax discounts, large grants, free land, plenty of public investment, and a wonderful life.
Once the moment of truth arrived, however, the government should have informed them of a final evacuation date, a date where the army leaves, water and electricity are cut off, and until that date, the settlers can arrange their affairs in the government offices set up in order to relocate them.
This is not about “expelling” them from their estate, because it’s not their estate. As to the slogan that “A Jew doesn’t expel a Jew,” – that is, only the expulsion of non-Jews, and particularly Palestinians, is permitted – this is a false slogan: After all, in Israel, many Jews of little means are being expelled from their homes, because they were unable to pay their mortgage due to poverty and unemployment (and here the government doesn’t contribute.)
Many in Israel sit in the dark, with no money left to pay their electricity bill. Those realities are well known, but they do not concern the “masters of the land,” who live at the expense of the disinherited and banished, and on the money of the needy within Israel’s jurisdiction.
Suddenly there are no roadblocks
However, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is again providing settlers with public funds, and makes sure to relocate them from the site of occupation, which he initiated along with others, in contradiction of any law and public order, not to mention elementary human fundamentals.
Some say: “They were sent there.” However, they knew well where and why, and went with joy.
Those who were true victims, sent without their knowledge, were the new immigrants from North Africa, who were sent to populate poor development towns in the south and border communities in the north.
However, those do not concern Sharon, those he watched over, or the rabbis who roll their eyes to the heavens, call for civil disobedience, and send mothers and babies to disrupt daily lives.
The government’s conduct in relation to the disengagement is yet another large step in undermining the rule of law (assuming there is someone over there who still pays attention to the law.) This also undermines Israel’s social fabric and encourages the religious zealots’ camp.
It’s hard to avoid the sense that we are witnessing slyness, if not outright deceit.
‘The world must see’
Sharon and his people fan the flames of the riots and make sure to create a trauma, so that we can show the world, and particularly the United States, how difficult it is to evacuate communities and how deep the zealot’s attachment to the Land of Israel is.
The world must see the rebellion. Therefore, our wonderful expertise in creating roadblocks disappeared as if it never existed when it came to the flocking of far right activists into the Gaza Strip and the holy madness barricading itself at the famous hotel.
All that, so that many would come there, so that the images of evacuation would be more difficult and the world would see.
This is the only way to understand the immense help offered to the lawbreakers in holding their protests – shuttles, security, free passage, ignoring violations of laws and regulations by rabbis, teachers, and other preachers.
How did the minister in charge of the police put it? “Those are our children!”
However, of course this entire patriotic mayhem, which takes place in the open, must be paid for. All the lawbreakers would eventually receive a great fortune and enter the list of the country’s wealthy, while being referred to as “pioneers uprooted from their land.”
The poor souls.
This is exactly what “thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth from thee” (Isaiah 49:17) means. That’s how you are, disorderly settlers, disrupting lives and democracy for your own sake, for the sake of your own depravities, and for the sake of your wealth.
And your patron the prime minister can be joyful with you. He hasn’t deserted you and is still providing you with much good, at the expense of the poor of the land.
Of course, not all settlers are the same and hold the same opinion. Yet all of them will receive the money.
