Well, I guess Meridor’s been hibernating since the abandonment of Gush Katif and missed the news of 13,000 rockets falling on Israel, ever since, including the five that were shot down over Ashkelon a few nights ago by the ‘Iron Dome’ anti-missile system.
But what about the others, who haven’t been in a ‘deep-sleep?’ Like Netanyahu, for example.
Last night I attended an ‘emergency meeting’ called by members of the “Jewish Home” party, in Ofra, in the Benjamin district, just outside of Jerusalem. The meeting was called as a result of continuing negotiations to again divide our land. These talks are quite secretive; rumors abound, but no one really knows exactly what’s being said behind closed doors. But the rumors are enough for concern. Grave concern.
I’d estimate that about 250 people attended, including leaders and members of numerous right-wing organizations. Also MKs, Rabbis and one deputy minister, Tzipi Hotovely, of the Likud and others.
Anyone attending was allowed to speak. All speakers were requested to talk about ‘what we should do’ and to keep it brief. Many ideas were suggested; not too many of them were new. Some were implemented in the past, others not.
But it’s all been heard before. The last time, nine years ago, in attempts to prevent the expulsion from Gush Katif, and before that, prior to the division of Hebron, and back in 1993, trying to prevent Oslo. And of course, let’s not forget the granddaddy of them all, the expulsion from Yamit in 1982, transfer and abandonment of the Sinai to Egypt.
1982 to 2014. Thirty two years. And we’re still playing the same games, watching as our land is chopped up into pieces, discarded, while we, the people of Israel, are fed to hungry wolves.
That’s what last night reminded me of. Not a bad dream. Rather a horrid sense of déjà vu. Been there, saw it, done it. The same threats, the same voices, the same suggestions, the same acts and deeds. And the same results.
Doesn’t leave you feeling really good.
So, what’s next? Good question. In truth, I have no idea. Anything can happen. I know that here in Hebron and around Hebron, violence is escalating on an almost daily basis.
Last night three Molotov cocktails were thrown at Beit Shneerson, right next to Beit Hadassah. Ditto last Friday, at Beit Kastel. Ditto a few days earlier at Beit Romano. Massive rock attacks, as we’ve witnessed before, on the road between Hebron and Jerusalem. Not too long ago, Israel soldiers literally stood and watched as Arabs pelted Israeli cars with huge stones. The reason for their inaction: they claimed that shooting ‘live bullets’ at stone-throwers is forbidden, and they didn’t have ‘rubber bullets.’ The result: watching from the side as Arabs attempt to kill Jews.
This is about as absurd as it gets.
Well almost.
That fact that Israeli leaders are still seriously discussing further dissection of Eretz Yisrael is no less absurd.
This is what’s going thru my head today. Seventeen years after.