T. Belman. What the fuck!!!
Civil Administration forces raided numerous Israeli homes in Gush Etzion this morning, confiscated mobile phones, and demolished several buildings.
Civil Administration forces demolished a number of buildings on homesteads near the town of Pnei Kedem in Gush Etzion on Tuesday morning. Six houses have been destroyed so far, including one with a family living in it.
The demolition was secured by significant forces of Border Police, whom the residents claim confiscated their phones to prevent them documenting the incident.
During the demolition, a closed military zone order was issued for the entire region, including the access road to Pnei Kedem. Residents who were on their way to work were blocked by police for lengthy periods of time, and were allowed to continue only after extensive questioning.
After approximately 2 hours, MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), who lives in Pnei Kedem, passed through the area and convinced the officers to allow residents to travel the road freely.
“We are still having trouble digesting what happened this morning. While many of the residents of the homesteads here are in reserve duty, and have been since the beginning of the war, the General of our region has decided to send hundreds of officers on an uninhibited crusade of destruction against the settlement while our best men are fighting on the front now and just this past night one of them was killed in action in Gaza. We have no words to describe this disgrace. How is the General not ashamed to commit such a crime as this?”
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“Around us there are hundreds of illegal houses built by Arabs with a single goal – to create the infrastructure of a Palestinian state in this area. The General does not touch them, because his goal is the establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria, and the ones preventing the advancement of that dangerous vision of his are the Jewish homesteads on the front lines.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s office stated: “The demolition this morning was carried out against the directions of the Minister. Following the Minister’s directions not to carry out any demolitions, the General elected to classify the incident as an urgent security incident and so circumvented the authority of the Minister to receive the approval of the Defense Minister.”
Smotrich’s office also noted that “The General does not see it as urgent to demolish the illegal Bedouin houses in the same area, nor to prevent Arab construction in eastern Gush Etzion, or indeed any of Judea and Samaria.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir commented: “On this painful morning, as we count our dead, as our soldiers are in Gaza and our nation is united, Minister Gallant is demolishing settlements. Instead of arresting and demolishing the illegal Palestinian takeover in this area, he has chosen to betray the settlers and soldiers. This is a continuation of the misconception and turns friends to enemies and enemies to friends.”
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Defense Minister defends Gush Etzion demolitions
Defense Minister Gallant responded to criticism of the demolition of Israeli homesteads in Gush Etzion this morning, saying that it should be directed at him instead of the IDF.
Israel National News Jan 9, 2024, 12:31 PM \
Scene of the demolition this morningCourtesy
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant supported the demolitions Tuesday in Gush Etzion and denounced the attacks on the military officials who decided to carry them out.
“Hundreds of terrorists have been killed on their way to attack citizens of Israel in Judea and Samaria this year. Commander Yehuda Fuchs has been responsible for all of these operations,” he wrote. “A significant portion of those attacking Commander Fuchs live in areas he fights to defend. I appeal to public figures: If you are holding a political campaign and need to criticize someone, make it me instead of IDF officers.”
In response to the statement, users cited another tweet by Gallant while he was part of the opposition, in which he criticized the Bennett-Lapid administration: “Bennett and Lapid are weak against Iran and strong against the children and families in the settlements.”
The Torat Lehima organization rescinded to Gallant, saying: “Fuchs is playing you, just as those who refused to serve did, and just as all the officers of the misconception did, to bring you to be the one responsible for the October 7th massacre. You are a failed Defense Minister, and there is no point in criticizing a puppet, when it is clear to everyone what hand controls it. Resign.”
Journalist Yotam Zimri wrote: “It is a shame that you are wasting time tweeting instead of demolishing another house in Gush Etzion.”
Journalist Nati Kalish commented: “Commander Fuchs is not holy. He can be replaced. Don’t sanctify individuals. Sanctify goals. In the meantime, you have obviously failed. Where do you get the strength to demolish houses of reservists?”
A user going by the name of Netanel Glasner wrote: “You were elected because we thought you were right-wing, and it turns out that you are wholly with the establishment. You have deceived your voters, resign from the Knesset, and go home, there is nothing worse in a democracy than to steal votes.”
At approximately 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, Border Police and Civil Administration soldiers, along with heavy engineering vehicles, raided several homesteads near the town of Pnei Kedem in Gush Etzion. They demolished houses, including that of two reservists and a family that lived there, and confiscated a large amount of equipment and camping trailers.
After approximately two hours of the roads being blocked, MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism) passed through the area and convinced the forces to allow residents to pass through the road.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s office stated: “The demolition this morning was carried out against the directions of the Minister. Following the Minister’s directions not to carry out any demolitions, the Commander elected to classify the incident as an urgent security incident and so circumvented the authority of the Minister to receive the approval of the Defense Minister.”
Reader
January 9, 2024 at 5:58 pm
Jonathan Pollard: The Cover Up of the Tunnels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoEQKMKjH-4
It should be recalled that it was Gallant who demolished the Or Chaim settlement last February.
https://www.jns.org/gallant-smotrich-spar-over-razing-of-jewish-owned-property-in-samaria/
Gallant should never have been kept in his position as DM after he betrayed the right while calling for an end to Judicial reform as a way to deal with the insurrectionists elements in the IDF demanding he do so.
@Sebastien Zorn
“Netanyahu halts IDF demolitions of illegal West Bank homes amid war”
N.’s trick to make himself look like a savior – who said that the demolitions were going to continue, and why didn’t he stop it BEFORE it started?
It is like Stalin the savior who “stopped collectivization” after the whole mess could no longer be fixed, let alone reversed.
Great politicians are all the same
Yoav Gallant is the Defense Minister, not Gantz.
“Netanyahu halts IDF demolitions of illegal West Bank homes amid war”
‘According to the bureau, this is “to prevent a recurrence of events like what happened today in Gush Etzion.”
‘The announcement comes against the background of the demolition of illegal buildings on Tuesday in outposts near the settlement of Pnei Kedem.”
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-781479
Will Ganz countermand Bibi’s orders as well as Smotrich’s?
What does the public think of this? Ganz is undoubtedly popular because he is the minister of defence but I read that the public that used to be prejudiced against Yesha community members are now friendly because such a high proportion of them are fighting in Gaza and losing their lives. Are there any polls?
some facts are UNBELIEVABLE
I think that they are getting ready for the TSFS, this is why they did the evacuations, another October 7 is due in the West Bank with more evacuations.
I think all of this was decided way before October 7 and now we are witnessing the theatrical performance for the fools who are being put to sleep with the “courageous” pronouncements.
Let us hope Israel won’t end up in the 1947 borders.
This requires a commission of inquiry immediately