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Stern: I'll keep coming to the Western Wall
IDF Personnel chief comes under attack at Western Wall but vows to keep returning to site; on his second visit to the Wall, attackers call Stern "Nazi"; Sharon blasts incidents as "criminal violence"
Hanan Greenberg
The IDF's Head of Personnel Directorate said he would not stop coming to the Western Wall for prayers, after coming under physical and verbal assault on Friday when he visited the holy site with his family.
| The incident |
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| Senior officer attacked at Western Wall / Efrat Weiss |
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Manpower Directorate Brigadier-General Elazar Stern arrives at Western wall in Jerusalem to pray with family; attacked by more than 100 ultra-Orthodox and religious worshippers |
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"I wasn't scared, but it was a difficult situation, it was very sad, especially for the religious public, because they actually tried to prevent a Jew from going to the Western Wall. The Western Wall doesn't belong to anyone and no one has the authority to prevent a Jew from going there," Major-General Elazer Stern, Head of the IDF Personnel Directorate, told Ynet on Saturday.
Stern was attacked on Friday at the Western Wall by ultra-Orthodox men and right wing activists. He was verbally abused with curses, and rocks and water bags were thrown at him, forcing him to leave with police protection.
On Saturday, Stern returned to the Wall, where he was again attacked. The kippah-wearing Major-General was branded a "Nazi," but insisted on staying and finishing his prayer. "I'll continue to come here and pray, but there are those who need to do some soul searching even after Yom Kippur," said Stern.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon telephoned Stern and offered his support. Sharon described the incident as a very severe and criminally violent act, and said he was aware that Stern and his family have come under threats and attacks. The prime minister complimented Stern's decision to return to the Western Wall.
"Anyone who thinks they can decide who will come to the Wall and pray – is making a mistake. Everyone has the right to go there and it is very sad that there are those who call themselves 'important rabbis', and yet they are part of the disorderly behavior," said Stern.
'Not easy for the family'
"I'm not scared. Despite the fact that rocks were thrown at us yesterday, the incident didn't affect me. Of course my family didn't take it well, my 10 year-old son told those attacking me that he was proud of his father. My daughter burst out crying, it wasn't easy for them," said the Major-General.
Stern said that during the disturbances aimed against him, police suggested that he leave the site, but he refused and insisted he would complete his prayer: "It was a message for all the soldiers, that no one can dictate to them where they can pray and no one can intimidate them. I know what was demanded of soldiers during the disengagement, and I'm aware of their level of restraint, which is how I acted yesterday. I had no interest in answering them, their shouts just went past me."
"They see religious officers as the weakest link, and they look for cracks. Also, they see in me the reason why there was no order refusal in the army, but I'm proud of that, as should all soldiers be," added Stern.
Mofaz: Attack on all soldiers
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz blasted the attack, saying: "The attempt to harm (him) is an attempt to harm every soldier and officer in the IDF."
"This is criminal behavior which we will never accept," he added.
Diana Bahur-Nir contributed to this report
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