| Week ending Saturday, October 22, 2005 |
19 Tishrei, 5766 |
|
Israelis Oppose Unilateral Pullouts:
 A large majority (more than two-thirds) of Israelis oppose further unilateral pullouts and expulsions of Jews without a final accord with the so-called "Palestinian" Authority, according to a Maariv poll. The "Teleseker" poll for the Israeli newspaper revealed that only twenty-eight percent of those surveyed support dismantling more Jewish communities without an agreement with the PA over the final status of a proposed new Arab state. More than half the respondents said they supported this summer's expulsion of Jews from the Gaza and northern Samaria regions, but 68 percent are opposed to any such further actions being taken.
An aide for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said more are planned. The Middle East Newsline quoted Sharon aide Eival Giladi, "Only unilateral [withdrawal] can work in this era. Israel determines where, when and how it withdraws." It also stated that the Defense Ministry is looking at options for multi-stage withdrawals in 2007 which would force up to 100,000 Jews out of their homes in Judea and Samaria after the completion of the security fence, much of which follows the 1949 Armistice lines.
Quiet Battle Between the IDF and Religious-Zionists:
This week the Israseli Defense Force Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz said, "The Nahal Hareidi, known as the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, was established for a particular purpose, and we are working to make sure it continues to serve that purpose. From an operational standpoint, they are doing excellent work, just like all the other IDF units. It's true that of late, because of a sharp drop in those enlisting from among the target public, soldiers were enlisted who originally were not designated for it. We are currently looking into the matter, and then we will decide how to proceed."
Established in 1999, the Nahal Hareidi was created to be a solution for hareidi-religious youth who had chosen not to study in yeshivot, but still did not want to enlist in regular army units for religious reasons. The program has been very successful since the unit has captured and killed terrorists on several occasions. More recently an increasing number of students, especially those in certain yeshivot, who might otherwise have served in the "hesder" arrangement [combining five years of Torah study and regular army service], have chosen the Nahal Hareidi instead. Lieutenant-General Halutz did not explain why this was unacceptable to the army, but said that the situation will have to be "reviewed."
Rabbi Elyakim Levanon (of Elon Moreh) is one of the two yeshiva heads involved. When asked about Halutz's intention to reconsider the Nahal Hareidi framework, Rabbi Levanon said that his yeshiva only has a few students who choose that option, but "in any event, it sounds foolish to review the Nahal Hareidi merely because fewer hareidim are serving. It was designed to provide a solution, so what difference does it make whether it's hareidim or other religious people who avail themselves of the solution?"
Deported Jewish Families Face Eviction:
Thirty families (Jewish settlers deported from Gush Katif) face being evicted from the Ashkelon hotel where they have been staying for the past two months. The Israeli government has cut the subsidies for these families. Some of them have even been charged three hundred "shekelim" (shekels) a night since 6 October. They clearly have nowhere else to go.
MK Dr. Uzi Landau stated, "No democratic country should ever abandon its citizens like this," after viewing the conditions of Jews expelled from Gush Katif and northern Samaria. Landau, currently in the race for the leadership of the Likud party, has called for the political party to debate the issue at the opening of the Knesset’s winter session two weeks from now.
Sukkot Celebration:
 Six thousand Christian visitors from eighty nations were present for the opening ceremony of the International Christian Embassy to Jerusalem's 26th Feast of Tabernacles. The fest in Hebrew is called Sukkot and is also sometimes referred to as the Feast of Booths. On the successive conference days more than 5,000 Christians filled the conference hall to overflowing.
On Wednesday, two hundred deported settlers from Gush Katif spoke at the conference. Christian participants gave the settlers a storming applause and prayed for them. On Thursday the yearly Jerusalem March took place in the Capital of Israel. As in year past thousands of pilgrims from all over the world walked through the streets of the ancient city carrying their countries flags and banners with biblical verses to praise G-d and to bless Jerusalem. More than 15,000 Israelis and 5,000 Christians participated in the event.
|
| |
