By Tim Franks BBC News, Jerusalem UNEXPECTED SUPPORT
By Tim Franks BBC News, Jerusalem UNEXPECTED SUPPORT
Every so often, I receive an email which prompts a double-take.
Every so often, I receive an email which prompts a double-take.
This was the top-line of a "media alert" from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, on 29 October at 2.14pm:
This was the top-line of a "media alert" from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, on 29 October at 2.14pm:
The police don't want us to pray in the Tomb of the Patriarchs. This is not just a violation of our right to freedom of movement, but to political expressions and freedom to worship Yehuda Shaul "ACRI welcomes today's Supreme Court decision to allow a group of right-wing Jewish activists to demonstrate in Umm al-Fahm, an Israeli city populated almost entirely by Arab citizens."
The police don't want us to pray in the Tomb of the Patriarchs. This is not just a violation of our right to freedom of movement, but to political expressions and freedom to worship Yehuda Shaul "ACRI welcomes today's Supreme Court decision to allow a group of right-wing Jewish activists to demonstrate in Umm al-Fahm, an Israeli city populated almost entirely by Arab citizens."
The application to hold the march had been opposed by the police and a range of Jewish and Arab figures inside Israel. ACRI had swallowed hard and proclaimed that the right to free speech must be upheld.
The application to hold the march had been opposed by the police and a range of Jewish and Arab figures inside Israel. ACRI had swallowed hard and proclaimed that the right to free speech must be upheld.
One of the march organisers is Itamar Ben-Gvir. He is a fleshy and dishevelled man in his early 30s, a wry smile at the corner of his lips, his beard flecked with grey, his eyes creased behind crooked, thick-framed oval glasses.
One of the march organisers is Itamar Ben-Gvir. He is a fleshy and dishevelled man in his early 30s, a wry smile at the corner of his lips, his beard flecked with grey, his eyes creased behind crooked, thick-framed oval glasses.
A few days ago, I saw him in Hebron - the city in the West Bank populated by a few hundred Jewish settlers, several hundred Israeli soldiers, and 160,000 Palestinians.
A few days ago, I saw him in Hebron - the city in the West Bank populated by a few hundred Jewish settlers, several hundred Israeli soldiers, and 160,000 Palestinians.
Itamar was a little late for our meeting. He was taking the opportunity to berate a group of American rabbis.
Itamar was a little late for our meeting. He was taking the opportunity to berate a group of American rabbis.
The rabbis were part of a tour being led by Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli former soldiers who, in their words, want to "expose the reality of the occupation".
The rabbis were part of a tour being led by Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli former soldiers who, in their words, want to "expose the reality of the occupation".
Itamar, who himself lives close to Hebron, does not appreciate the presence of Breaking the Silence, and was expressing his views volubly.
Itamar, who himself lives close to Hebron, does not appreciate the presence of Breaking the Silence, and was expressing his views volubly.
The tour leader, Yehuda Shaul, soon had another argument to contend with. He became embroiled in a finger-jabbing row with one of the 20 or so policemen surrounding the group.
The tour leader, Yehuda Shaul, soon had another argument to contend with. He became embroiled in a finger-jabbing row with one of the 20 or so policemen surrounding the group.
The commanding officer was refusing the group entry to one of Judaism (and Islam's) holiest sites, the Tomb of the Patriarchs.
The commanding officer was refusing the group entry to one of Judaism (and Islam's) holiest sites, the Tomb of the Patriarchs.
"You didn't give us advance warning, and it's for your own protection," the officer explained.
"You didn't give us advance warning, and it's for your own protection," the officer explained.
Yehuda Shaul insisted that the police had known, weeks in advance, that this group would be coming, and that a visit to the tomb was part of the tour.
Yehuda Shaul insisted that the police had known, weeks in advance, that this group would be coming, and that a visit to the tomb was part of the tour.
The police officer would not budge. Just before his group trudged off, defeated, to the tour bus, Yehuda turned to me and laughed at the irony.
The police officer would not budge. Just before his group trudged off, defeated, to the tour bus, Yehuda turned to me and laughed at the irony.
"These are rabbis, religious leaders from the American Jewish community. The police don't want us to pray in the Tomb of the Patriarchs. This is not just a violation of our right to freedom of movement, but to political expressions and freedom to worship."
"These are rabbis, religious leaders from the American Jewish community. The police don't want us to pray in the Tomb of the Patriarchs. This is not just a violation of our right to freedom of movement, but to political expressions and freedom to worship."
'DEPORT THE ARABS'
'DEPORT THE ARABS'
When Itamar Ben-Gvir was arguing his case in court for permission to hold a march in Umm al-Fahm, he used, as a precedent, the example of tours such as those organised by Breaking the Silence in Hebron. They are just as provocative, was his argument, in essence.
When Itamar Ben-Gvir was arguing his case in court for permission to hold a march in Umm al-Fahm, he used, as a precedent, the example of tours such as those organised by Breaking the Silence in Hebron. They are just as provocative, was his argument, in essence.
A racist is someone who comes and takes a stand in favour of the Arabs... who tells us, you are Jews and can't live in Hebron, but the Arabs can live in Umm al-Fahm Itamar Ben-Gvir Itamar does not just want to prove a point by holding a march. He also wants to deliver a message to the almost wholly Arab population of Umm al-Fahm.
A racist is someone who comes and takes a stand in favour of the Arabs... who tells us, you are Jews and can't live in Hebron, but the Arabs can live in Umm al-Fahm Itamar Ben-Gvir Itamar does not just want to prove a point by holding a march. He also wants to deliver a message to the almost wholly Arab population of Umm al-Fahm.
"The Jewish people don't have another country, and the Arabs have 21 countries. We have a small country, and from this they want to uproot us."
"The Jewish people don't have another country, and the Arabs have 21 countries. We have a small country, and from this they want to uproot us."
His wish is simple: "When you have a people that rise against you, kills you, massacres you, wants to take your home - you shouldn't let them stay. They should be deported."
His wish is simple: "When you have a people that rise against you, kills you, massacres you, wants to take your home - you shouldn't let them stay. They should be deported."
Most Israelis would disavow Itamar's views as racist. Is he?
Most Israelis would disavow Itamar's views as racist. Is he?
"A racist is someone who comes and immediately takes a stand in favour of the Arabs. This is the racism: those who tell us, you are Jews and can't live here (in Hebron), but the Arabs can live here and in Umm al-Fahm."
"A racist is someone who comes and immediately takes a stand in favour of the Arabs. This is the racism: those who tell us, you are Jews and can't live here (in Hebron), but the Arabs can live here and in Umm al-Fahm."
Later, on his return to Jerusalem, following his truncated tour of Hebron, I spoke again to Yehuda Shaul.
Later, on his return to Jerusalem, following his truncated tour of Hebron, I spoke again to Yehuda Shaul.
He agreed that Itamar Ben-Gvir should be allowed to march. But he said his tours and Itamar's demonstration are not comparable.
He agreed that Itamar Ben-Gvir should be allowed to march. But he said his tours and Itamar's demonstration are not comparable.
"We don't have megaphones, slogans, flags, banners," Yehuda said. "This is an information tour. We don't need a licence from the authorities. Anyone can come to Hebron: you can just get on Bus 160 from the Central Bus Station (in Jerusalem). And if the state can't protect us? Then they should use more police and soldiers."
"We don't have megaphones, slogans, flags, banners," Yehuda said. "This is an information tour. We don't need a licence from the authorities. Anyone can come to Hebron: you can just get on Bus 160 from the Central Bus Station (in Jerusalem). And if the state can't protect us? Then they should use more police and soldiers."
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