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Why doesn't the Jewish Press put INN on the front page?
Which news is more newsworthy?
The fact that Europe and the US are showing 'Unified Stance on Iran" - This weeks Front page news of Jewish Press (JTA) Friday October 16, 2009
or ...
that the government of Israel is expelling 3 innocent Jewish men with families from Yitzhar from their homes with no charges and without compensation for loss of livelihood....another clear example of settler harassment.
(Let's analyze...Tachlis, what real difference will it make to know that in tone, America and Europe show a unified stance regarding Iran, especially when we read that these world powers are frustrated that they have been unable to stop nuclear proliferation in Iran, and that there is strong skepticism in Europe that strong sanctions on Iran are not effective and there is fear that sanctions will create security problems word wide. In my opinion, this JTA article does nothing except create anxiety on the part of the reader. After all there is not much a typical reader can do about nuclear weapons buildup in a country that espouses Terror. What point is this knowledge when it merely serves to make us nervous.
On the other hand, reporting about 3 religious family men who for no apparent reason except perhaps political are being expelled from their homes serves to raise awareness that will hopefully stop a miscarriage of justice.
Please read the kind of story that usually does not get prominence in the Jewish press. Giving it the prominence it deserves is responsible reporting and also a Mitzva not to stand by idly when evil is happening when we are witness to it.
For the Arutz 7 story:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133807
You got a few days to pack and leave your house!!
By Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katzover
Imagine the following scene:
You are a building contractor on your way to work. You have been asked to deliver some building material to a client. You park your car, and out of the blue, 10 to 12 detectives and policemen run towards you, surround you and hand you a piece of paper telling you: "This is an expulsion order. You are being expelled from your home and community and area for the next 6 months. You got 5 days to pack. If we find you in your home after that, you will be arrested and jailed". Not sure yet whether this is true or just a bad joke, you ask the police: "But why? What did I do? What are the charges?".
The police answers: "No comment. That's the way it is."
Sounds like a scene from Kafka? Well, this is what happened this past Sunday to Akiva Hacohen, 25 year old resident of Yitzhar, building contractor, when he delivered some building material to a client.
On Sunday October 11 Akiva was given orders expelling him from his home and from Judea and Samaria for 6 months at least. Akiva is married to Ayelet and they have 3 children. Ayelet is pregnant with number four please G-d.. Two other residents of Yitzhar were given similar expulsion orders. Ariel Gruner, 27 year old, married and father of 3 children and Eliav Eliyahu, 20 year old, recently married and they are expecting their first child.
Like in previous times when this has happened, here too it is IDF Central District Commander Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni, known for his animosity towards Land of Israel lovers, who has signed the expulsion orders. For the entire story you can click on the link to the Arutz 7 report about it at the end of this article.
As usual, there were no specific charges to the expulsion orders.
During the period of forced expulsion the government does not provide the expellees with any compensation or help to find alternative arrangements. The expellees have to find and pay for a place to live, and employment. At the present time, Akiva is working as a contractor building homes in the area of Yitzhar, where they live, and grinding wheat and selling the flour. This will no longer be possible. Likewise for Ariel and Eliav who will also lose their job.
Women in Green call upon all of us, friends of Israel in Israel and abroad, to express our outrage at this persecution of these wonderful Jews, lovers of the Land of Israel. The more noise we make about this, the more the authorities will reconsider and think twice about ever doing this again. See below for WHAT WE CAN DO.
The official, ridiculous, explanation given is that those Jewish fathers " are a danger for the public order". Our message is: If Akiva, Ariel and Eliav have violated the law, why aren't they charged and brought into court? Why are the reasons for their expulsion secret? The answer is clear: Because those expulsion orders have nothing to do with law and order. In fact they are a violation of basic norms of all enlightened democratic systems when one is only accused with due process. We know those great Jewish men. The only so-called "crime" they can be accused of is that they are proud Jews and loyal to the land of Israel. The expulsion orders are political tools meant to demoralize the national camp ; who knows, maybe before what might soon come G-d forbid, a new wave of destruction of outposts and communities. We protest this and demand that the expulsion orders against Akiva Hacohen, Ariel Gruner and Eliav Eliyahu be cancelled immediately.The more noise we make about this, the more the authorities will reconsider not only the expulsion decrees, but any other decrees they might be planning for the next few weeks.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
1) Maj-Gen Gadi Shamni, who signed the expulsion orders and is known for his animosity to the national camp, is leaving Israel next week to become the IDF's military attaché in Washington. If he thinks he could sign those expulsion orders and then go to Washington where nobody will remind him of the shameful expulsion orders, he should reconsider. Women in Green call upon all Washington friends of Israel to find out where exactly Gadi Shamni will be located and organize lawful vigils in front of his home and work with a clear message: Shame on you for expelling Akiva, Ariel and Eliav. Cancel the expulsion orders and let these 3 Jewish fathers go back home!
Vigils like these are very effective and important.
2) For those living abroad: Please contact the Israeli Embassy or consulate in your country to protest these expulsion orders
For the link to the Israel Embassy and consulate Directory: http://www.science.co.il/embassy.asp
Let Israeli embassies in Holland, France, belgium, Australia, Canada etc...receive emails, calls and faxes in support of Akiva, Ariel and Eliav.
Same for US Citizens: please contact the Israeli embassy in Washington, Ambassador Michael Oren, and your local Israeli consul
Israeli embassy in Washington: Tel: 202-364-5500 Deputy Chief of Mission: Mr. Dan Arbell Fax: (202) 364-5560
Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Major General Benjamin Gantz Tel: (202) 364-5403 Fax: (202) 364-5503
3) Obviously we must also contact the Israeli politicians. Emails are ok but phonecalls and faxes are better.
For all contact info (telephone and fax) for Israeli ministers please click on:
Emails of Israeli ministers (thank you to Suzy Dym):
Please ask others to join this effort, especially prominent community leaders and rabbis.
4) Lastly, the families to be expelledfrom Yitzhar need apartments for 6 months.
If anyone can help, or knows of someone who has an empty apartment,
please let them know: Akiva: 054 765 7556, Ayelet: 054 638 2106,Zangy (Honenu): 052 566 5975
The police have given Akiva, Ariel and Eliav a few days to comply, after which time they will be arrested, so time is of the essence.
The families have hired lawyers, but so far they have not been able to stop the proceedings.
As the famous quote goes: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing "
We are doing! For Jerusalem's sake we will not be silent!
With love for Israel,
Nadia Matar, Women in Green
Yehudit Katzover, the committee for a Jewish Shdema
For the Arutz 7 story:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133807
