Earlier today Adam posted the stark video from the settler attacks last Friday on demonstrators protesting theft of Palestinian lands at the Anatot settlement in occupied Palestine (a version with English subtitles is above). Over the weekend I spoke with one of the Israel activists who was targeted in the attacks. The activist declined to be identified and provided this insight.
We have never seen anything like this till now. Mostly secular settlers working with the police, and the police on duty did nothing. Some of these settlers were off duty police officers. At one point, settlers beat a female Israeli activist in a field. And when they were done the policeman on duty went over and said, “So, you have fallen down, let me help you up.” The settlers were not scared at all. They were not covering their faces.
It is like a Pandora’s box has been opened. Yes, they were targeting Palestinians, but this is also an inner Israeli conflict. It is an internalized conflict. The settlers feel very protected. If there is going to be a civil war inside Israel, these are the new fronts.
Richard Silverstein has a post up with reports that 70 percent of the Anatot settlers are police officers…
Of course the settlers feel protected. The machine of the Israeli state is their machine . If they wanted to be ignored and powerless they’d live in the Galilee or the Negev.
I do not think this is a good development. It’s not good to feel smug, but if the Israelis insist on meeting my expectations of so many years, what can I do? Still, it’s not a nice feeling.
Yes, I know Richard, if I didn’t feel that way about Zionism, none of this would be happening. Yes, “eee” and the rest, none of this is really happening.
They are taking their anger out against the Arab, instead of against their government.
That is scary
“If there is going to be a civil war inside Israel, these are the new fronts.”
Much to be desired.
The Silverstein piece also has a description of the provocation that caused the good citizens of anatot to riot:
What angered the “residents” of Anatot (read, police and intelligence officers) about this incursion is that they’re used to having carte blanche in carrying out their jobs. They’re not used to anyone interfering, let alone getting in their face and shouting that they committing a crime or injustice. That doesn’t sit well with the bull-headed macho, male security goon type in Israel. So he roars in anger and takes it out on the protestors as happened in Anatot.
One of our resident Zionists argued that the Anatot thugs are more civilized (compared to what?) and had to be provoked.
So here we have it: the demonstrators gave them some good old fashioned in your face accusations for being immoral. Words can be painful. Come forth Zionist apologist and tell us how the demonstrators had it coming.