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Uprooting Jews

Settlers: Olmert is provoking civil war

Jews of Yesha urge gov't to step back from the brink, engage in dialog


By Ryan Jones
January 19, 2006

Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria warned this week that Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's heavy-handed policies against them and their right to settle the Land of Israel are inching the nation closer to civil war.

On Thursday, Police and Border Police forces streamed into the Judean town of Hebron, where some 2,000 heavily-armed riot troops are expected to take part in the forced removal of a handful of Jewish families from their homes in a long-abandoned Arab vegetable market.

This despite the fact Jewish ownership of the property has been proven, and that Israel's High Court recommended the government solve the issue by leasing the building to its current occupants.

Nevertheless, Olmert has vowed to deal swiftly and harshly with any who oppose his plans, which also include the uprooting of some 20 other so-called ?illegal? settlements which past governments helped to establish.

That sentiment was echoed Thursday by a senior police official who told Ynet, ?This time, as opposed to the disengagement, we will show determination with zero tolerance.?

Hebron's Jews and the thousands who support them have also vowed that unlike their brothers in Gaza's former Jewish communities, they will not embrace and weep with those sent to violate their biblical, historical and legal rights to the land.

?Olmert is instigating a civil war,? National Union MK Aryeh Eldad told Ynet.

?We suggest Olmert learn about the complicated subject of outposts before he launches his attack and decides on a war,? read a statement by the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria (Yesha).

Eldad and Yesha officials are urging the Olmert government to engage them in dialog before the situation gets out of hand, but reports indicate the prime minister has cut all official contacts with the settlers.

?There is room for a legal compromise but the acting prime minister prefers to ignore it in order to be the Left's leader in the upcoming elections,? Eldad said.

Others charge Olmert is acting to appease increasing American pressure. Washington is keen to see full implementation of its Road Map ?peace? plan before the conclusion of President George W. Bush's second term.

Meanwhile, media analysts explained to Israel National News that Olmert's recent statements against the settlers, which were seen as even more harsh than those made by Ariel Sharon before and during the Gaza pullout, could ultimately cost his Kadima Party at the polls.

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