Hevron - Now And Forever

The surreal absurdity of Ben-Eliezer’s plan to transfer Hebron to the murderers is aptly demonstrated by these two stories. While the transfer will certainly put Jewish lives in severe jeopardy, it will also provide another stronghold for the terrorists in Judea along with Bethlehem.

(Arutz Sheva) Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Army Radio today that, "security permitting," he plans to withdraw IDF forces from Hevron by the end of the week. The move would come as part of the new "Judea First" plan introduced by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. An extension of the failed "Gaza and Bethlehem First" plan, "Judea First" calls for the transfer of security control throughout Judea to the Palestinian Authority's security establishment.

Ben-Eliezer, speaking from France, said that Israeli officials had already notified PA representatives about the intended Hevron withdrawal. Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Seri notes that while Prime Minister Sharon expressed his opposition to the "Judea First" plan during the Cabinet meeting on Sunday, he did not overrule its implementation.

A spokesman for the Hevron Jewish Community had harsh words for Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer, saying he "is willing to literally sacrifice Israeli lives for his own political gain. Transfer of Hevron back to Arafat-terrorists is tantamount to cold-blooded murder... Less than three weeks ago, a Jewish man was shot and killed in cold blood, while three of his children were injured, here in Hevron... Only a few days ago, terrorists massively attacked the Tel Romeida neighborhood, shooting from the Harat a-Sheikh hills... The IDF [then] was prepared to fight back, on the spot. What will happen when those hills are solely occupied by terrorists, without an IDF presence? The answer is crystal clear. Hevron residents will again be sitting ducks in a pond, target practice for the terrorists..."

IDF: Bethlehem haven for terrorists

Bethlehem has become a sought-after haven for Palestinian fugitives since the IDF pulled out in accordance with understandings reached in the "Bethlehem-Gaza First" understandings almost three months ago, Col. Shimshon Arbel, head of the office of the coordinator of government activities in the territories, said Monday.

Arbel warned that one should not be deceived by the "relative calm" in the Bethlehem area, which has become a hotbed of terrorists from all over the West Bank, especially those from the Hebron area.

"From the city, where they receive shelter, they convey instructions to terrorists elsewhere in the West Bank to perpetrate attacks," he said.

"Instead of cracking down on them and bringing them to justice, the Palestinian Authority fails to act to combat the terror and stop the bloodbath."

Arbel said it would be wrong to believe that the PA is incapable of acting if it chooses to do so.
"A good example is what happened recently in the Gaza Strip, when Hamas killed the Palestinian police commander. Immediately, the PA condemned the act and demanded that those responsible for the attack be turned over. Yet I never heard such sharp and immediate responses of condemnation in cases where terrorists who lived in areas under PA control entered Israel and perpetrated suicide attacks." [Read More]