Updated:
This is the latest from Ynet on the incident that has shocked the world:
Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner, an officer who was suspended from the IDF after hitting a leftist protester from Denmark, said in a conversation with a supporter that he never put “anyone’s life in danger.”
“What’s more important, fulfilling the task or looking good for the camera?” he said in a chat that was broadcast on Channel 10 News. “I am familiar with these anarchists’ history. They came with sticks and broke my hand, but no one talks about that or films that. It’s true; some of the pictures look bad. I used my weapon coldly, like a stick. I didn’t kill anyone, and didn’t put anyone’s life at risk.” (Ynet)
I have been reading the Hebrew press’s coverage of the rifle-bashing incident on Saturday, in which Israeli lieutenant colonel Shalom Eisner struck a Danish activist in the face in the Jordan Valley and the video went viral.
Eisner was interviewed yesterday for an hour and stuck by his version that he was attacked. Some reporters caught up with him leaving a synagogue near his house this morning and then later outside his house. He said he was under orders not to talk. He appeared with his hand bandaged. Answering a question from a reporter said that the hand hurt a bit.
Ynet stated, quoting army sources, that Eisner may be dismissed but then given another position. The only interesting quote from Ynet:
Lieutenant Colonel Eisner was asked if he was angry at someone and he responded: “What is there to be angry about? To be angry would be to punish yourself for stupidities of others.”
To the question, whose stupidities?, he answered “it is forbidden to relate to this now.”
I like the “now” part. Maybe that is a promise of news to come. Ynet has the interviews, a picture of Eisner with his bandage and another video of the incident (not too much on it).
And Ilene Cohen notes:
Eisner clutched and handled his weapon on Saturday (both during the smack and afterward) with hand unbandaged and in control, fingers on both hands nicely wrapped around the gun (he also opened the car door in this latest video with no problem).
RE: “Bandaged and smiling, Eisner blames others’ ‘stupidities
ALSO SEE: Former soldiers rush to defense of officer who hit activist, By Ilan Ben Zion, Times of Israel, 4/16/12
ENTIRE ARTICLE – http://www.timesofisrael.com/former-soldiers-rush-to-eisners-defense/
P.S. A COUPLE OF COMMENTS MADE TO THE HAARETZ ARTICLE “Activist beaten by IDF officer: Claim protesters were violent is ‘a complete lie'”, by Gili Cohen, 4/16/12
Speaking with Haaretz, Danish national Andreas Ias says IDF’s claim that protesters were violent are untrue
SOURCE – http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/activist-beaten-by-idf-officer-claim-protesters-were-violent-is-a-complete-lie-1.424572
So if there’s no camera around, they have carte blanche to attack, kidnap and hurt people. The only fault was being seen on camera, and no doubt that was all planned by those dastardly protesters who upset the occupying bullies so much.How typical, instead of showing some remorse or self-awareness, the classic Israeli response is to deny, lie and go on the attack. Like a child caught out they will say anything, with the conviction that the indulgent parents will absolve them of any duty to telling the truth or acknowledging their role in injustice.
yeah, someone should tell him when he’s trying to convince the world his hand is damaged not to favor it automatically when opening the car door while he’s being being recorded. i hurt my hand in an accident once and hardly used it for 1/2 year. especially not a couple days later. then he slams the car door shut with it too. what’s he thinking? he’s so full of himself he forgot.
I wouldn’t make too much of the “stupidities of others” part, both because Eisner was just using a common aphorism, and because the Ynet transcript is wrong.
The warrior Jews get all clammed up when they have to explain themselves to the world on camera and in English .
It all makes sense in Hebrew. The land is worshipped. It justified the offering of Jewish ethics . “Palestinians” don’t even belong there. Foreigners who support the Arabs are deluded anti semites.
Eisener is just a grunt. Danon and Bibi call the shots and they are not coy about what has to be done to “redeem” the land.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPVTC9frqMA