Unfortunately, the soldiers and police had no such reservations, as kids were literally lifted into the air and thrown to the rocky ground – one boy was thrown against a wall so hard he was bleeding heavily from his head. Another boy was so violently handled that it is likely his leg was broken. In fact, tear gas was used on non-violent kids who were in the house trying to prevent its demolition. In all, 12 youths were injured and 11 arrested.
I am embarrassed to report all this. It never should have happened. But it did. Around this time hail started raining down from the sky, pelting people. Girls burst into tears; someone despondently remarked that the heavens were crying. I didn’t doubt it..
For me, the saddest moment of the day was when my sons, 11-year-old Eitan and 9-year-old Ezra, both extremely anxious, wanted to know if the soldiers might one day destroy our home in our precious Neve Daniel. What could I say? I hope it will never happen. I don’t think it will happen. But after the terrible evictions last summer I cannot be certain of anything. The best I could do was hug them and tell them that God only gives people what they can handle. It truly broke my heart.
Life is challenging enough without our imposing on ourselves greater difficulties. Why would we do this to ourselves as a nation? Do we need to have people bombing us in order to remain united? Isn’t it possible for us to look out for each other instead of tearing out our very souls to appease others?
Perhaps the rest of the country can look to places like Neve Daniel and Sde Boaz as incredible examples of people caring for each other and of Jews from diverse backgrounds living in harmony together.
Israel, please don’t make an example of Sde Boaz; let Sde Boaz set an example for you.