Israeli soldiers are protecting the Palestinian olive harvest. About time. I guess this means we are getting the one-state solution whether we like it or not. I'm not being visionary. This reflects two large realities: Israel insists on having a giant military force and a giant military presence in the West Bank for "defensible borders," per the neocon thinktank boys. And it insists on having nutbag jihadi Jews living on the best land of the West Bank.
How long before: Arabs bravely serve in the IDF on a regular basis? Before the IDF is also protecting revived Palestinian villages in Israel? And before the great majorities of Arab and Jewish societies are allowed to make a political consensus: We have to get along to go forward? (and that the only way to lower the temperature is to end apartheid..)
Thanks to Richard Witty for the tip.
Actually, the IDF is not "protecting" the olive harvesters. It is making sure that in the case when the Arab workers get close to one of the Jewish communities in the area, they don't use the opportunity to trespass and collect information that may be used by terrorists. This has happened in the past and is the reason when the Jewish residents get nervous if Arabs infiltrate their communities. The vast majority of incidents you all reported about scuffles between Jews and Arabs in Judea/Samaria is due to provocations, often caused by Israelis or foreigners who want their to be incidents they can then record with their video cameras and then send around the world to raise money. This is why there are never arrests of the Jews involved, because the police know who is provocking the trouble.
Let's be honest, Phil. These people accompanying the Arabs there are not interested in the Arabs having a "peaceful" olive harvest, or supposedly escorting Palestinian children to school in a path that happens to trespass on a Jewish community's property. They are ultimately trying to get the Jews expelled from Judea/Samaria. The are not really interested in the welfare of the Arabs they claim to be "protecting", that is just the excuse. Since that is what you and the majority of those commenting here want, be honest and say that you think the provocations are a good idea and you hope they continue. The worst thing for the cause would be a lack of incidents that could be publicized around the world.
It's nice to hear a bit of hopeful news. Good find. I'd like to start adding some of the Haaretz clips to my collection, does anyone have a clue how to extract embedded videos? I fiddled with Grab++, but could only get it to pipe the stream to windows media player, not save to drive.
reminds me of something witty once said:
Gideon Levy: No one who chooses to live in occupied land is a moderate.
You must admit the truth: To you, they are the pioneers who go before the camp, the ones who stand at the forefront. They are the ones who are realizing what your generation tried and failed to do in its day. In the deepest recesses of your souls, your hearts go out to them.
Something I said?
Don't lie, anonymous.