An Israeli worshipper was shot dead by Palestinian police forces early this morning. He and some fellow Breslov Hasidim had been praying at the site of Joseph’s tomb, a key site in the Jewish religion. The site is in Nablus, which was handed to the Palestinians as part of the Oslo Accords. It is therefore under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, whose policemen shot the Jews as they left, killing one and seriously injuring others.
It has been said that the group had not co-ordinated their visit to this sensitive area through the usual channels, even though this was during Passover, a time extra visits would be anticipated. For this, they paid a heavy price: one of them has been killed and others wounded. In the wake of the attack, some Palestinians set fire to Joseph’s tomb. I cannot conceive of a sentence that begins to express how horrific this is.
Contrast the situation there with the Old City of Jerusalem, where the Israeli authorities painstakingly protect the rights of all faiths to visit and pray at their places of worship in dignity and comfort. Indeed, Israel leaves the administration of the Temple Mount (a site of intense significance to both Judaism and Islam) to the Arab Waqf.
I visited the Temple Mount during my Once In A Lifetime trip to Israel last summer. It was the one part of the trip I did not enjoy. When we arrived, some charmless Arab security guards menacingly inspected the attire of the females in our group to check it was sufficiently modest. I’ve no problem with the principle which would equally have applied at Jewish holy sites, but the execution was unpleasant.
On the Mount itself there was litter floating about the place and a dark feeling. When I have stood at the Kotel (Western Wall) I have always been overwhelmed by a feeling of beauty, magic and light. On the Temple Mount I felt a similarly intense feeling, but one clouded in darkness. We were watched closely throughout our visit, as there is a rule that Jews (and indeed any non-Muslims) are not allowed to pray up there. So if you pause for a moment with a thoughtful look on your face, you immediately fall under suspicion.
Israel deserves enormous credit for the way it governs the Old City of Jerusalem, allowing all faiths to enjoy their holy sites. Were Israel to behave how the Palestinians did in Nablus today, one can only imagine the global outrage. Imagine for a moment that some Arabs were shot by Israelis as they left the site of the Dome of the Rock. Imagine that following this, some Israeli youths set fire to the Dome of the Rock. We would be talking about global outrage, possibly even talk of World War Three breaking out.
Yet when that chain of events happened in Nablus this morning it merited little coverage, condemnation or even reflection. My heart goes out to the family of Ben Yosef Livnat, who was killed there. May his memory be a blessing. I wish his injured friends a speedy and full recovery. Regular readers will know of my love of the stories and sayings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. All the Breslov Hasidim of any strand I’ve ever met have been wonderful, gentle and joy-inducing people. I hope that through the pain, shock and hurt they continue to bring light to the world.
And I hope that one day, Israel is given due credit for the way it so beautifully governs the Old City of Jerusalem, proving itself once more a moral example to the world.
FYI – Ben Yosef Livnat is the nephew of MK and Minister of of Culture and Sport Limor Livnat. See http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/143687 for more information.
BS”D Thank you for this piece, Chas. May Livnat’s memory be a blessing, and may Hashem avenge his blood! I would also draw your attention to the following document (link) – http://networkedblogs.com/h2jaH
Thanks for the link
When we got back to the vehicles the police shot at the vehicles, they were screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’. It was crazy, they were shooting to kill. I screamed at the driver to drive out of there quickly.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4060142,00.html
Excellent post Chas.
Chas, I was thinking the same thing, that Israel does not require Arabs to ‘coordinate’ visits to Al Aqsa, and that there should be no reason to coordinate visits to Joseph’s Tomb.
It might be informative to expand on what about the execution of the clothing inspection you found so unpleasant.
Hard to pinpoint – and to be clear it was not excessively unpleasant and I do understand that security/checkpoint type jobs must be unrewarding.
That said, I found an irony in the fact that Israelis are so often considered evil bullies towards Arabs, yet here were Israeli women having to undergo checks from Arab men in the heart of Jerusalem.
Just to add the injustice here are some additional facts to ponder – Joseph’s tomb was placed under Isreali jurisdiction according to the Oslo Accords, so that Jews can have freedom of worship at their holy site. However, the Arabs rioted, killed worshippers there and burnt Joseph’s tomb. From that day, the Israeli government didn’t do anything to re-establish jurisdiction and since then it has been under the Palestinian Authority control even though it is supposed to be under Israeli control. Does the world cry foul? Does Israel have the guts to stand up for it’s rights? Unfortunately, the answer to both questions is NO, when it comes to Jewish rights the world is silent and Israeli leaders are too weak. Happy Passover to better days for all of mankind!
Sad, but true. I will repost. Interesting to me as I started off my day with plans to visit the Temple Mount as required by the Jewish faith on Pesach – Passover. Getting up and ready early in the morning I heard the rescue helicopters flying over head and then got the news of the attack at Joseph’s tomb a fifteen minute drive north of my home. While visiting the Temple Mount and trying to pray unseen by the Muslim Walkf attendees, I got a call telling me that the young man who was killed this morning was the son of a good friend of mine from Elon Moreh. With many others I attened his funeral at the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple Mount.
Enough already- enough murdering Jews for being Jews. The state of Israel and the territories where Jews live is no longer secure for our people. We have tried to make deals with them, but to no avail. I believe that the best response is deterrence- this was a planned provocation- this needs to be taken to the highest level of PA authority- do what needs to be done to make them stop- massive deterrence of the highest level.
Thank you Chas for a very thoughtful post. I have made the same point on another blog. One can imagine that the UN Security Council would already be sitting in condemnation of Israel had the boot been on the other foot. Unfortunately the killing of a Jew in such circumstances does not even make it to the breaking news on the Telegraph website. The BBC as usual announce the passive “Israeli Killed …”.
People who store weapons, hide in and shoot/attack others from their own mosques do not respect their own holy sites, so why is anyone surprised when Muslims attack Jewish & Christian (and even Buddhist) holy sites???
Israel HAS to take responsibility for the holy places and that includes the Temple Mount. Israel is a sovereign state yet Jews cannot pray or perform services on its holiest site/! This is a bizarre secular joke. No wonder the arabs do not respect Israel!
“Israel deserves enormous credit for the way it governs the Old City of Jerusalem, allowing all faiths to enjoy their holy sites”
I disagree. I fully agree with aparatchik.
Israel as a state needs to be in control of all holy sites. It is only in this way that all rights can be protected.
Stan
I’m not sure what you are disagreeing with? Can you explain?
I don’t give Israel credit for the way it governs the Old City. in regard to the Dome of the Rock. Israel has given up its sovereignty over the site. Many Jewish relics have been destroyed as a consequence. I believe all sites should be open to all people. This is not the case.
Stan
Ah I see. Yes, point taken.
A former neighbor recalls Ben Yosef Livnat:
“He had studied at Kollel Ohr Shlomo in Tel Rumeida for a few years. I saw him there every morning, studying ‘Hassidut,’ usually ‘Likutai Me’oran,’ the teachings for Rebbi Nachman of Breslev, with a ‘chevruta,’ a study partner, before the nine o’clock start of the regular day’s program.”
“During his last year in the Torah program, he moved, with his wife and family, to Beit Hadassah. “They lived in an apartment under ours for about a year, before moving to a Breslev neighborhood in Jerusalem.”
“Benyo – Ben Yosef, was one of six children in the family and his name reflects the family’s bond with Joseph and Joseph’s Tomb, where ironically, he was murdered.”
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=217739
“On the Mount itself there was litter floating about the place and a dark feeling.” Chas, you are only being sensitive to the spiritual litter, as well as the physical. Just keep going – keep responding.
Thanks, JB
I dont think political correctness is wise for our people- when we are savagely attacked, as is happening every day now, we have the right to defend ourselves. Listening to our masters: the Quartet, US, EU or UN is not to our benefit. They are Israel’s enemies if they produce “bridging proposals”- in other words where they tell us their plan. We must own our own plans, not leave it to foreigners and outsiders!!! We either create our destiny, or it will be created by others- our enemies. Obama is an enemy- the Quartet, the UN, the many in the EU- are enemies who propose to carve out a solution for the Jewish people- a 3300 year old civilization. Do we really think it wise to listen as they demand that we all jump of a cliff?
Thank you Chas. You are so right.
” Imagine for a moment that some Arabs were shot by Israelis as they left the site of the Dome of the Rock. Imagine that following this, some Israeli youths set fire to the Dome of the Rock. We would be talking about global outrage, possibly even talk of World War Three breaking out.”
I didn’t know that the entire Temple Mount had been turned over to the Muslims and Jews are not allowed to pray there! And Jews are putting up with that?? If true — to the barricades!! And thank you Chas. for your great blog.
“there is a rule that Jews (and indeed any non-Muslims) are not allowed to pray up there”
Contrast this with the Muslim insistence upon praying in the streets of Paris and in the cathedral at Córdoba.
Sometimes on Fridays, Muslims take over the street in front of the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane for their mid-day prayers… they fill the street, and NO ONE stops them – instead, buses, cars, taxis are stuck and cannot move… The church there is closed at noon, so Christian groups have no where to go and are, in effect, held hostage there until the Muslims finish.
Oh, and they are NOT facing the Temple Mount which is right above them – no, of course, they are praying south toward Mecca!
Thank you Chas for this sensitive and emotive piece
We are so lucky to have you as a friend, and in particular a great friend and supporter of StandWithUs
I know you are feeling a bit sensitive at the moment about being cold shouldered by some elements of our community but please know you are so highly valued and appreciated by everyone who familiarises themselves with the huge contribution you make
Please feel loved and wanted because you are.
Many thanks, Joy
It also should be noted that no non-Muslims are allowed into the Dome or Al Aqsa. I got into a heated argument with the Dome bouncer, pointing out to him that Muslims are free to enter any church, synagogue or temple anywhere and therefore it was not fair to prevent me from seeing what is an exceptional piece of architecture. Not to mention that it is built over the rock that is holy to the Jews as the location of Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of Isaac on Mt Moriah, and is also, as far as I know, placed at the precise location of the holy of holies of the Second Temple.
A Franciscan friar intervened and prevented what could have turned into fisticuffs or my sudden death. The monk sided with the Muslim thug, blaming Ariel Sharon’s visit for the decision to close both buildings to non-Muslims. Nonsense of course. It is all about control and supremacism. The Temple Mount is a truly apartheid zone. I also spoke to some Israeli police standing nearby….who informed me they were there to stop Muslims throwing rocks on the worshippers in the western wall plaza below.
The other “job” of the Israeli police on the Temple Mount is to arrest Jews if they are caught even looking like they might be praying! It happened to a friend of mine who wasn’t praying – she had just sat down for a rest in the hot sun and closed her eyes for a second… They took her to jail and wouldn’t release her until she signed a paper promising to never ascend to the Temple Mount again!
That’s so awful. Poor woman. The Mount has that kind of atmosphere….very edgy and unpredictable. It’s an energy centre, a power point…just look at the history… right back to King Solomon. The hottest spot on earth..and a real flashpoint. It’s a pity about the Muslim aggression that currently permeates the place. I love the space up there… around the dome.. after the claustrophobia of the narrow streets in the old city….and the olive groves.
Completely agree.
Can you imagine how amazing and beautiful the Mount could be without the Muslim presence, the control , the visiting restrictions and the hostility. Imagine a third temple there…a ‘place of prayer for all nations’ over the rock, and al-Aqsa a Christian church again. The place could be a haven, a sanctuary,a healing zone 24/7 for everyone, of extraordinary power, beauty and significance for the whole world to visit for some spiritual R and R. As is the Kotel in fact. It’s tragic and grotesque that there is this huge area in the middle of Jerusalem, the Jewish spiritual HQ, that Jews, Christians and other sundry infidels are not welcome in. I have a soft spot for that group….the Temple Foundation?…. who every now and then try to lay a foundation stone for the Third Temple on the Mount, and invariably get arrested.
Roger I see no reason why Jews cannot hold services up there with some temporary facilities that can be assembled and taken away afterwards.
That is simply incredible
This was no where on the news yesterday. There wasn’t even the excuse of tsunamis and earthquakes as when the Fogels were murdered. Thank G-d for Facebook.
Once again it speaks volumes that this story, of unacceptable violence on the part of the security forces of the Palestinian Authority was buried deep within the recesses of the BBC World News section. For once, the BBC did not try to invert the event as somehow brought upon the victims by their own actions (which is so often the case in BBC coverage of any atrocities against Israelis by Palestinians). However the quote from the Palestinian governor says it all. “The main problem is that they [the Israelis] entered the city without co-ordination,” said Jibril al-Bakri, the Palestinian governor of Nablus”. Hardly the attitude one would expect from a senior official in a country which craves recognition from the international community. I just hope the hypocritical pro-Palestinian lobby in this country remembers how dangerous it is to visit the West Bank on their summer hols this year.
Well done Chas for making people aware of this.
The world especially the Palestinians and Arabs just don’t see how the Israelites have shown respect to them and to everyone who visits the Old City of Jerusalem. Why can’t they show the same respect the Israelites are showing them? Indeed, they reveal who they really are.
OT powerful stuff from Howard Jacobson
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/howard-jacobson/howard-jacobson-ludicrous-brainwashed-prejudice-2273774.html
Wonderful isn’t it? Thanks.
One of the injured from the Nablus is in a critical condition. Please pray for Uriel Ben Ahova.
I was just made aware of this article (and blog) via Facebook. Great article and great blog. I will definitely be passing this on.
Chag sameach and you truly are a Bnei Noah.
Hey Chas,
Maybe a more suitable comparison for your analysis is when Baruch Goldstein went into the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and massacred 29 Palestinians and injured another 135 – all under the watchful eye of an IDF guard.
While this doesn’t excuse the death of the worshipers in Nablus, it makes a far fairer comparison than that of the situation in the Old City.
Hey Joe, I think I’ve posted elsewhere on this blog that Baruch Goldstein killed those people simply and solely because he found out that those Muslim Palestinians were planning to massacre the local Jews.
Pre-emptive strike. Here is the Wikipedia discussion relating to sources re this pre-emptive attack:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3ACave_of_the_Patriarchs
APOLOGIES FOR LENGTH!! Jill
Tom: In your reply to Guy Montag, you raised some good points and asked some valid questions. I shall now try and reply to these points and questions.
You write: “The report talks of suspected planned attacks of Jews by Arabs but says nothing specifically about when it was to take place. Arabs are ALWAYS planning to kill Jews, whats new there? Anyways….”
In fact there is evidence that this Arab attack would take place on Purim morning in the Cave of Machpelah:
1) One of the IDF officers, Lieutenant Yitzchak Hamudot, in his testimony under oath to the Shamgar Commission said that all the warnings, orders and explanations which were circulated in the days up to Purim, referred to a planned attack on the Jews during their prayer service in the Cave of Machpelah at half past seven on the morning of Purim. [Shamgar Commission: Minutes p.927]
2) Two newspaper reporters, Yigal Amitai and Yitzchak Kainan, for the daily “Yom Layom” wrote that they had received information from senior officials in the intelligence service “Shabak” that the Hamas had planned a massive attack on the Jews in the Cave of Machpelah on the morning of Purim. [Yom Layom 10 April 1994 p.1]
3) Ruthie Moshe gave evidence under oath in a court case that when she told a Hebron Arab worker (who at the time was working in her house), that she was going to be in the CAVE OF MACHPELAH on PURIM, he replied “Don’t go to the Cave of Machpelah. Go to Kiryat Arba. It is safer.” [Baruch Ha-Gever trial, Jerusalem Magistrates Court, 1997, Minutes p.57]
4) Warnings were given to the Israeli guards at the Cave of Machpelah that on the days immediately before Purim, the Arabs might try and smuggle explosives into that place.[Shamgar Commission: Report p.28; Minutes pp.518-19]
5) Almost all the 800 Arabs (an unprecedented number!) that Purim morning entered the Cave of Machpelah by the East Gate where they knew that the metal detector [which would detect smuggled weapons] was broken, although there was nothing to stop them from going through the Main Gate. They had even broken the East Gate’s metal detector even more on the PREVIOUS NIGHT [Shamgar Commission: Report p.15; Minutes pp.203 bet-gimmel] This number of Arabs included 300 women and they knew that the regulations forbade the searching of women, even by women soldiers. Also remember that Moslem women wear very long dresses. [Shamgar Commission: Report p.18; Minutes p.203 gimmel]
6) There were various reports of finding weapons in the Cave of Machpelah in the Hall where the Arabs had been. (A check showed that they did not belong to Dr. Baruch Goldstein, the soldiers or Jews then present in the Cave of Machpelah.)[Shamgar Commission: Report pp.46, 59-60, 223; Exhibits 1137(1), 1137(52)]
7) The Arabs had distributed a leaflet in Hebron saying that on Purim or the day after – the stress being on Purim – an Arab terrorist attack would take place in Hebron. [Shamgar Commission: Exhibits, Reports from Logs of Operation Rooms of 2 separate Israeli Army units] The existence of this leaflet was also reported in the Shamgar Report. [Shamgar Commission: Report pp.79, 223] (This leaflet stated the date although not the place)
You wrote: “Have you read the Commission report? It states that NOBODY was aware of what he was going to do. He acted independtly. Therefore, people can only SPECULATE about why he did what he did. Please QUOTE directly from it (the report) where it shows his SPECIFIC motive or EVEN THEORY.”
1) A fair amount of evidence at the proceedings of the Shamgar Commission was taken behind closed doors and many of the Exhibits are still closed to the public. However we do know that in addition to the published Shamgar Report, there is a SECRET SUPPLEMENT. This fact we know from the Mayor of the Hebron Jewish Municipal Council,Avraham Ben-Yoseph. In his position, he visits many army and civilian offices, and he saw both in the office of Regional IDF Commander and in the office of the IDF Area Commanding General, the OUTSIDE of this secret supplement. Obviously he could not look inside it! According to hearsay reports of its contents, it states that Baruch Goldstein’s act was a pre-emptive strike to prevent a massacre of Jews. I immediately admit that this is hearsay, but no more so that the statement: “When Israel captured the area during the 1967 Six Day War, it is said that then Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan was given the keys and was supposedly shown the actual secret hidden passageways that lead to the below-ground tombs” which appears in this Wikipedia “Cave of the Patriarchs” article!
2) It is true that Baruch Goldstein told nobody of his intentions for that Purim. It would seem to me that there are two good reasons for this, a) Three days before Purim, a meeting was called at a few hours’ notice by Major General Shaul Mofaz, Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, for the Mayor and Councillors of Kiryat Arba. At this meeting, General Mofaz informed them that a terrorist organisation was planning to execute a serious attack during the coming days. [Shamgar Commission: Exhibits 217 aleph p.6, 678] Dr. Goldstein was a member of a medical team that would have been called out if such an attack had taken place. He would thus have been given ADVANCE warning by the authorities of the likelihood of such an attack, so that the necessary preparations could be made to meet such an emergency. Following this meeting with Colonel Mofaz, Dr. Goldstein was informed of these warnings in order to make the necessary preparations. [Shamgar Commission: Exhibits 207 p.1, 208 p.1, 217 aleph pp.4-5; signed statement by Kiryat Arba Councillor Bella Gonen] After Dr. Goldstein heard about the meeting with General Mofaz, he went to the Mayor of the Hebron Jewish Municipal Council. Avraham Ben-Yoseph and said in a voice full of emotion and on the verge of tears “Will you allow this to happen? Why not take action to avoid this catastrophe.” It is said that “walls have ears” and had there been the slightest knowledge of Goldstein’s intentions, he would very likely have ended up in the Israeli infamous “administrative detention” and the massacre of Jews might then of gone on as planned. [The question which immediately comes to mind is why wasn’t the Government of Israel going to take measures to prevent such a massacre. Here of course one comes on to speculation and only after secret Government records have been opened 50 -100 years after the event, will we know the true answer. Meanwhile we can only guess. At that period the very left wing Government of Israel had just recognised the PLO and was negotiating the handover to them of cities and areas populated by Arabs. One of these cities was Hebron. But in the centre of Hebron was Jewish settlement and this could torpedo any agreement. In 1929, in the Arab pogrom on the Jews of Hebron, nearly 70 Jews were massacred and this resulted in the removal of the entire Hebron Jewish community from the city. Likewise a similar massacre against the Jews in Hebron in 1994 could have produced similar results. I fully admit this is only a theory. However, we do know that Yitzchak Rabin who was then Prime Minister and Minister of Defense (and thus was in possession of the most highly classified material) was opposed to the setting up of a Commission to investigate this Purim incident, and only after the members of his Cabinet insisted did Rabin agree. [Ma’ariv, mussaf Pesach. 25 March 1994, p.2] Also, in its Report, the Shamgar Commission was very critical of the lack of protection given by the Israeli Government to the Jewish settlers in these areas [Shamgar Commission: Report pp.152, 167, 168]] b) the second reason for Goldstein not telling anyone of his intentions could well be that this would make them accessory before the fact and by them not reporting this to the authorities, could land them a jail sentence. This occurred with Margalit Har-Shefi who spent 9 months in jail for not informing the authorities of Yigal Amir’s intentions. [ Margalit Har-Shefi v. State of Israel, Israel Supreme Court I.P. 3417/99. 21 February 2001]
Thanks, Joe.
What is your source for saying definitively: ‘all under the watchful eye of an IDF guard’?
It is an interesting comparison, I agree. The outrage about the Baruch Goldstein attack was global and vocal, quite rightly so. The Israeli government loudly condemned it and took swift action against some sections of its own people as a result.
Eight years on, this horrific incident is still widely condemned and discussed, as your contribution shows. The Nablus attack was not widely discussed or condemned even on the day it happened. The contrast between the response to the two incidents is stark.
“And I hope that one day, Israel is given due credit for the way it so beautifully governs the Old City of Jerusalem, proving itself once more a moral example to the world.”
Indeed, Chas.
If you have eyes to see and ears to hear, this example is striking. Visit the Kotel on Shabbat eve and, depending on the time you begin your visit, you’ll hear the Islamic call to prayer coming from several minarets. You’ll experience the joyful celebrations by the Kotel and then, on your way home hear church bells chime. Where else in the world does that happen?
As for the stark differences in reporting tragic events such as this, there is a tendency amongst some of their supporters to see Palestinians as having child-like tendencies, unable to – and indeed, not expected to – control their immature selves. It therefore seems to me that those who excuse Palestinian violence must, at some level, consider them to be less civilised beings than themselves which is patronising and not remotely helpful to either side in this conflict.
‘It therefore seems to me that those who excuse Palestinian violence must, at some level, consider them to be less civilised beings than themselves which is patronising and not remotely helpful to either side in this conflict.’
This is the soft bigotry of low expectations. Their supporters really don’t think Muslims can be any better. They don’t hold them to the same high standards as for us Judeo-Christian westerners for example, and so they excuse and explain their behaviour away. This is racist. They choose to be ‘politically correct’ and side with the perceived ‘underdog or ‘victim’ than stand up for decency and real human rights. You could call it humanitarian racism’.
“This is the soft bigotry of low expectations”
I’d agree, Roger. Yet it is evident that in terms of propaganda and knowing your enemy, the leaders of the Palestinians have out-witted the West rather well. They know the values and mindset that they are working with. We, on the other hand, can’t seem to get the fact that those values are not necessarily universal values, shared, understood and accepted by all.
As I said, apologies for the length of my post.
I posted this whole discussion here partly becaseu there is seldom any info published about Goldstein’s motivation for his killing those Arabs.
I myself only found out about it last year or so, despite Goldstein being mentioned frequently on various news sites.
What a surprise that the reason for his action is so seldom mentioned…[/sarc.]
Though I don’t recommend Wikipedia as the sole source for anyone, I have found that it certainly has its moments!