Monday, March 10, 2008

Minister Tamir Booed by Colleagues

Hana Levi Julian

Students at the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva (Seminary) booed Education Minister Yuli Tamir after she came to pay a condolence call Sunday night following last week's massacre of eight young students by an Arab terrorist who was a resident of Jerusalem.Tamir said she was kicked, spat on and shouted at by a group of students who called her a "murderer" and ordered her to "get out of here" as she left the building after addressing the students. Students charged that the transfer of guns to terrorist groups in the Palestinian Authority forces authorized by her government had led to terror attacks like the one at Merkaz HaRav
The Education Minister is a known supporter of the radical-left Peace Now organization which is committed to wiping out the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria. She also recently slashed the budgets of national religious high schools.

The yeshiva is the flagship of the religious-Zionist movement; Mercaz HaRav has produced every major rabbinical leader and dean of a hesder yeshiva (which combines IDF service with Torah studies).

Tamir expressed "mental anguish" following the incident, saying the students who were slaughtered "were my students" and that she felt it was her obligation to see the site of the murder.

"I came to console the students and see the scene of the attack for myself… In a matter of seconds we found ourselves surrounded by dozens of rioters… I am deeply saddened that people cannot differentiate between a condolence visit and a political one… I only came to pay my respects to the murdered, not to engage in politics."

Monday morning, National Union Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev countered Voice of Israel government radio interviews aimed at condemning the students' actions. "Either her visit was a provocation or simply showed insensitivity," MK Orlev told the radio network. "She is politicking on the blood of the slain students."

Orlev pointed out that both Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi visited the yeshiva after coordinating with rabbis, but that Tamir came unannounced.

Prime Minister Also Persona Non Grata at the Yeshiva
Yeshiva officials have reportedly also warned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office that he will not be welcome.

The yeshiva's rabbinic leaders also explained that the government's intention to give away parts of Israel, to divide Jerusalem and hand over large parts of Judea and Samaria to the Palestinian Authority, is against Torah law.

"It is no secret that there is an ideological rift between Olmert and the yeshiva," acknowledged a source at the Prime Minister's Office. "Despite everything, we will further examine the possibility of visiting the yeshiva and decide."

The yeshiva's administration was reportedly "not enthused" over the idea of hosting the Prime Minister, but a source said no official decision had yet been reached.

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