Kudos to MK's Uri Ariel, Tzipi Hatoveli, Nissim Zeev, Yaakov Katz for going on offensive against espionage charges

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Dear Rabbanim, Media and Activist List, amv"sh

In my last email post I cried out for the Knesset Members to do something against the latest accusations against the best and most committed and loyal settlers, youths and Ohavei Eretz Yisroel, lovers of Israel.  Many of the Knesset Members have Baruch Hashem spoken out with strength.  Not only is this a Mitzvah of Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof, pursuing justice,  their words are a balm to the soul of those so falsely accused by the very government and country for whom they love and risk their lives and whatever they possess.

Many years ago I was volunteering for an organization called Yad Ezra under the great Tzadik, Rav Usher Freund.  Yad Ezra was a magnet of the homeless, the poor, those who are going through emotionally trying times.  I learned something very important from Rav Usher regarding human psychology which has helped me in life.  He said that we  perceive a mirror reflection of what is inside of us.  Therefore, if we are full of rage and anger we must look inward.   Rav Usher judged others  according to their responses to events in life.  If one responded with rage and nasty accusations to an action that was perceived as being directed against them the truth was otherwise. Rav Usher was then able to judge and understood the situation more accurately and knew that there was a good chance that the "victim" was really the guilty party. 

From here I learned, that when one accuses an innocent person of all kinds of nasty things totally untrue, it is a window of understanding to the naive and  innocent victim charged with false allegations as per whom they are facing and dealing with. If it is someone they have a close relationship, their reaction is sadness, a sense of betrayal and mistrust.   Actually, it is empowering for the victim to see the hidden gift from G-d to be the target of such rage and accusations because the naive victim was most probably clueless as per the evil actions and/or possible intentions of his accusers. So rather than waste energies trying to debate these false allegations, one must suspect potential evil in his accusers past or heart and seriously  investigate his accuser and confront it.  Rather than waste precious energies in defending oneself from false accusations, one must with wisdom recognize and try to prevent the perpetrators of future crimes they falsely accuse others of doing. 

If however, one is enraged ;when one hears the accusations directed against them, one must honestly examine his heart as per whether or not he is truly guilty and do Teshuva, repent.  

* MKs Slam Espionage Charges for Protest Organizers http://www.eish-l.org/s/4lxjo4

MKs Slam Espionage Charges for Protest Organizers

Israel's state prosecutors found themselves in the crosshairs after charging protest organizers were with espionage.

By Gavriel Queenann

First Publish: 1/5/2012, 1:54 PM

MK Uri Ariel

Israel news photo: Flash 90

Nationalist MKs lined up to criticize state prosecutors for charging residents in Judea and Samaria who revealed IDF troop movements pertaining to demolition orders of Jewish homes with espionage.

MK Uri Ariel (National Union) told a Constitution Committee hearing on law enforcement in Judea and Samaria that the charges were an "immoral abuse" of power.

"The police and the prosecution put a black mark on Yitzhar by accusing people of spying," Ariel said. "Who is the enemy here? The settlers?"

"The criminal justice system that is actively working to destroy the homes of civil servants and army officers has now turned us into 'spies,' Ariel told the committee.

Turning to representatives from the state prosecutor's office, Ariel said, "You embarrass the legal profession."

Ariel also challenged the prosecutors to charge him with espionage. "I spy! I told about IDF movements in the evacuation of settlements. I am ready to stand trial."

"This is an immoral abuse and criminal," he added. "This persecution must be stopped".

MK Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) also railed against the decision to charge activists engaged in civil disobedience with espionage at the hearing, "You you are cheapening the term 'espionage.'  Have you completely lost your minds?

"What's next?" she asked rhetorically. "Will you be accusing them of genocide? Charging them with genocide is utterly shameful."

Hotevely added, "Your behavior reminds us of dark regimes. Would you do it in Tel Aviv? Would you simply banish people? Distancing people from their homes, their wives, their children - are we in Soviet Russia?"

MK Nissim Ze'ev (Shas) told the committee, "I suggest the law enforcement system to take stock of its soul. It has taken a hostile line and allied themselves with enemies of the State of Israel. To accuse these people of espionage is an outrage".

"The police are arresting people without cause," Ze'ev added. "This is unacceptable. There is persecution and hatred toward the residents [of Judea and Samaria]."

National Union party chairman MK Yaakov Katz told the committee, "I call on every Jew in Israel who sees a military vehicle headed to destroy Jewish homes to inform all their friends so we can go and protest.

"We all received SMS messages about demolitions - are we all spies?" Katz asked. "When will you begin to execute people? The distance between accusations of espionage and shooting them is a short one."

Israeli governments "already killed in the Altalena incident citing the Rule of Law. Indeed, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer called for hilltop youth to be shot. And now you make up dirty stories about us and accuse us of espionage?" Katz asked.

"This blood libel will backfire on you," Katz added. "Your hatred may be the prevailing opinion of the prosecution, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the police. But when you make up dirty stories today, what will happen to you in the future? You won't be able to complain if the same is done to you."

Shas faction chairman MK Avraham Michaeli said, "We are against administrative detention and distancing orders. Prosecute and the court will rule. There is selective enforcement against residents of Judea and Samaria. We live in a state of law and the law must apply equally to everyone."

Rights observers noted that Anat Kam – who passed reams of classified documents to a Ha'aretz reporter – was charged with illegal possession of classified documents rather than espionage even though the materials she leaked contained sensitive information that could have compromised Israel's national security and future war fighting plans.

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Sincerely,

Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list  are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan)  a great activist and lover of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichrono Baruch.

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