After Condemning Jewish Violence Friday, Security Forces Permit it Saturday
PRESS RELEASE | AUGUST 2 2015
Same Old Games: After Condemning Jewish Violence Friday, Security Forces Permit it on Saturday
Rabbis for Human
Rights: One day after the Israeli security forces condemned murderous
violence against Palestinians, they protect violent settlers near
Qusra.
On Saturday violent far-right
activists came from the outpost of Esh Kodesh (“Holy Fire”) to a plot of
land cultivated by Palestinian farmers from the village of Qusra. The
area is classified “Area B” and is under Palestinian civilian control.
There is no Israeli administered “state land” present, and there is no
legitimate debate regarding ownership of the land the Palestinians were
attempting to work on. Despite it being Shabbat, the right-wing
extremists attacked Palestinian farmers in front of Israeli army
soldiers, preventing the farmers from completing their agriculture
work. The situation developed into a violent confrontation, and the
soldiers present did not try to stop the right-wing extremists, but
rather offered them protection. Later, after the situation had
de-escalated, a member of the police attacked Palestinians with a taser
gun without cause.
RHR opposes any form of violence while
condemning the Israeli security forces’ actions of tacitly permitting
violence against Palestinian farmers by Jewish extremists. This behavior
is especially egregious since it occurred in Area B. Only one day
after the shocking murder of a Palestinian toddler in the village of
Duma, the army’s refusal to respond appropriately to violence by Jewish
extremists demonstrates that no lessons have been learned as a result of
Ali’s death. Israeli authorities must act decisively and strongly
against Jewish violence and terror.
While it is natural that the security
forces may identify more with their own people, procedures regarding law
enforcement in situations involving violent Israelis must be clearly
laid out and consistently implemented.
Photos by Zakaria Sadah, RHR field worker
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