Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Anarchists Incite Arab-Jewish Clashes, Says Security Chief


Nissan Ratzlav-Katz
A7 News

The current olive harvest season in Judea and Samaria has raised the possibility of clashes between Arabs and Jews in groves adjacent to Jewish communities. However, the head of civilian security for the region says that confrontations are strictly a function of whether or not pro-Arab and anarchist activists are in the area.

Shlomo Vaknin, head of security for the Judea, Samaria and Gaza Council, told Arutz Sheva radio on Tuesday that the olive harvest by Arab farmers takes place with no disruption as long as extremist activists do not interfere. "The integration of left-wing activists and anarchists in the olive harvest causes charged impulses and needless confrontations," Vaknin said. In recognition of their efforts to disrupt the peaceful harvest and cause provocations, he added, left-wing activists are being kept away from certain harvest areas by IDF forces.

As proof of his point, Vaknin cites last year's harvest period, which went almost completely smoothly after the IDF prevented activists from sparking confrontations near Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria. The residents of the Jewish communities, Vaknin claimed, behaved with great restraint in the face of provocations that occurred. "As far as I am concerned," Vaknin said, "the harvest concluded without any clashes between the two sides."

The IDF makes its security arrangements for the olive harvest period in complete coordination with the Judea and Samaria Jewish communities, with whom the ground rules for a peaceful harvest are determined, Vaknin explained. The IDF, the Civil Administration and the various security services assure Arab farmers access to their olive groves. For the most part, despite past instances of harvest time being used as an opportunity for pre-attack surveillance by terrorists, the IDF allows Arab farmers to collect their produce even in areas adjacent to many Jewish community perimeter fences. The objective of the defense establishment in such cases is to maintain, as much as possible, the daily life and routine of Arab farmers in Judea and Samaria.

According to Vaknin, the civilian security personnel in the Jewish communities are invited every year by IDF officials for discussions detailing clear rules of behavior during the olive harvest season. The issues raised are the exact borders of the Arab olive groves and what behavior is to be considered normal, and when there is a true security risk posed by the olive harvest.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a direct quote from the settlers' channel, israelnationalnews.com

they are very right wing.

GS Don Morris, Ph.D./Chana Givon said...

Anonymous,

What is a direct quote? The Israeli citizens living in the disputed territories are defending their legal rights-this makes them "right wing"? What is your real meaning behind your comment? You are upset? With what points-exactly? Is it not appropriate for individuals to stand up in defense of what they believe is right and legal? If no, then why is it "just" only for the Palestinian Arabs-does this make them some wing, left or right?

Anonymous said...

the previous anon. poster is saying that this whole story is a re-post from israelnationalnews.com, which is well known for it's hard right leaning tendencies and reporting. No news station is without bias, and the bias in this station is quite obvious and extremely strong. also, what the settlers "legal rights" are on land that is still considered "disputed" territory (a very kind way of putting it if you ask me) by every nation except israel itself is highly questionable

Anonymous said...

Well, maybe it isn't right vs. left, but state propagandists vs. olive farmers. It comes as little surprise that the IDF would scapegoat activists who film them, publish video of them shooting at farmers, and generally force previously silent issues to the surface.

Need an example?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDD8ANFgwtA

P.S., here's what anonymous #1 was mentioning:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133723

So, the state protecting itself from incrimination seems what, again?


sincerely,

another Ph.D.

GS Don Morris, Ph.D./Chana Givon said...

I shall make one post to Anonymous-why do you not identify yourself, "another Ph.D."? I do my best to present facts-others choose to repeat mantras-Israeli citizens do live in towns and cities in the disputed territories-the politics involved by those describing individuals, events and circumstances indeed explain their agenda-this does not change the truth. International law provides the legal rights of those living on the land.