Hebron. An on site report.

by John HM Tue Nov 06, 2007 01:20

Sderot Fortifications Endanger Instead of Protecting Civilians
by Hana Levi Julian

Home Front Command officials and Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal will meet with company executives that built "fortified" bus stops in the city. The IDF says the structures are worse than useless – they are dangerous.

The special bus stops were built to protect commuters from Palestinian Authority rocket attacks fired on Sderot from nearby Gaza. But, the material used to build the bus stops could shatter if hit by a rocket, creating dangerous flying shrapnel.

According to a Channel 10 TV News report, the 51 specially-protected bus stops in Sderot were built with 20-centimeter thick walls, instead of 40-centimeter thick walls as required by regulations. In addition, experts quoted in the report said the building material could shatter if struck by a rocket, endangering bystanders as well as those caught inside the structure.

Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal immediately halted the installment of the special bus stops. Sarah Sasson, head of the Parents Forum in Sderot, was livid upon learning the grim news.

"Whoever put up these stops is a criminal and a murderer," she fumed, "because young children could have hidden in them, expecting safety and instead have been killed."

Other townfolk said they were unsurprised by the news. They noted that a missile recently penetrated a supposedly reinforced building.

The Home Front Command spent millions of shekels to reinforce a school building, they added, only to discover that the "fortified" building was still vulnerable to the rocket that slammed into the structure.

Sderot Task Force head Alon Davidi said, "It's not enough that the government fails to fulfill its function and refrains from ordering the IDF to begin ground operations in Gaza – now we feel [the government] has turned its back on us in this matter as well."

Myriads Celebrate 3600 Years of Judaism in Hevron
by Shauna Naghi

Tens of thousands of Jews flocked to Hevron, Israel’s second holiest city, this weekend for one of the year’s largest gatherings: the reading of the weekly Torah portion that recounts the purchase of Hevron by the Biblical Patriarch Abraham.

A pre-Sabbath prayer service was held inside the Cave of the Patriarchs

In Genesis, chapter 23, the Bible records Abraham's purchase of a large tract of land with a cave in which to bury his wife Sarah. The historical purchase occured in the year 2085 on the Jewish calendar (1676 BCE).

Twenty thousand Jews were present in Hevron according to David Wilder, the Hevron Jewish community's official spokesperson. The tomb of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and matriarchs Sarah, Rivkah and Leah are located in Hevron in the city's ancient Cave of the Patriarchs, where the main Torah reading was held.

With filled dining halls, tables spilled out into Hevron's streets to accommodate the 20,000 visitors

One-star accomodations didn't stop myriads from coming to Hevron

Hevron was liberated by the Israeli Defense Force during the 1967 Six-Day War.

“When I saw all those Jews standing together praying in unity, it gave me such a sense of peace and belonging,” commented Chaya, one of the thousands of participants at the special event held each year to celebrate the reading of the week's Torah portion, "Chayei Sarah" – translated as "the Life of Sarah."

Visitors to the holy city were treated to tours around ancient Hevron in numerous languages, including English tours led by local residents Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum and David Wilder. Chief Rabbi of Tzfat Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu was amongst the guests and delivered lectures.

“It was a surreal experience,” said Eitan, one of the thousands of participants. “Reading the ‘Chayei Sarah’ Torah portion on the very land that Abraham our forefather bought in which to bury the body of his wife Sarah was so empowering.”

Jewish families literally slept in Hevron's streets to take part in the weekend

For many years, Jews were blocked by the Arabs from entering the Cave of the Patriarchs after the Ottoman Turks lost control of the territory to the British. Despite the site's Jewish origin and the fact that even today, Jews allow people of all faiths to pray at the tomb in peace, the Arab claim that Jews should not be granted entrance because the gravesite is a mosque, held sway after the British gained control over the area.

The multitude of guests slept in sleeping bags and on bedrolls scattered on whatever floor space was available. Visitors were welcomed into the homes of Hevron residents, on the floors of classrooms, in school gymnasiums, and even in tents on grassy areas.

Noelle, a student recalled “Even though the floors were hard and crowded, it was all part of the experience of being together with thousands of Jews at once. The achdut [brotherhood] was incredible.”

Gavriela, another student visitor, summed up the way her visit to Hevron affected her Zionism. “Entering the rooms in which my patriarchs are buried proves to me that this land, [the land of Israel], truly belongs to the Jewish people.”

by Michael Martin Fri Oct 12, 2007 21:17

For a short but informative history sketch of Hebron click on link below. But a word of caution is in order here. No archaeological or historical evidence whatsoever is available to t underline the existence of the biblical Abraham. It's more than likely that him and a variety of other people mentioned in the Old Testament are in fact fictitious characters which have been added to the biblical stories at a much later stage .
But nevertheless the jewish people have an undisputed historical right to settle in Hebron, more so than those Moslems who claim the land as their own.

by Frank Adam - private citizen Fri Oct 12, 2007 19:52 Prestwich, Gtr Manchester, UK

Dear Indy,
Nice to hear Con Carroll is getting some education! Try English next time!
Does Con Carroll know that the great "Ibrahimi" Mosque of Hebron was built by Herod the Great for his Jewish subjects?
That the "Abraham " protects the traditional Cave of Machpelah gravesite that Abraham bought at 400 shekels of silver for his wife Sarah?
That over two millenia before Mahommed was a twinkle in his daddy's eye?
That the pilastered architecture of the Ibrahimi is as near as we have to what the Temple looked like?
Because Herod (re)built both gravesite and Temple 600 years before Mahommed!
More seriously, has ISM warned Con that one reason the Jews of Hebron are tough is because they respond to Arab stones and violence in triplicate?
Have ISM briefed Con that anybody who steps onto a battlefield - for any reason - does so at their own risk (but properly embodied troops are "covered" by their army for protection, medical and legal cover); or is Con being set up like that other ISM martyr fodder twit, Rachel Corrie? FA.

by Con Carroll Wed Oct 10, 2007 16:15

the mouth piece of American terrorism Blair. arrived in Hebron to-day for a economic forum.

by Con Carroll Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:25

such is their intelligence
it is not every day a Irish person is referred to as a suspect suicide bomber. by Israeli occupying forces.
Salam
every morning we accompany children on their way to school. in Hebron. having a international presence this stops violent attacks against children by settlers. the children appreciate our presence.we also have a presence outside the mosque. a week ago Israeli police opened fire on unarmed Palestinian civilians attending the mosque.
we also have a presence when Palestinian youth/people are been detained by Israelis. this could mean for 3 hours. when internationals are present it can take up to fifteen minutes. at checkpoints. no Palestinian is allowed to drive their vehicles where settlers are. this morning I was accused of been a suicide bomber by I O F at a check point. the settlers are known to refer to internationals as Nazis, or Arabs. Friday we hope to attend a Palestinian lead demonstration against the apartheid wall. certainly I am getting educated by the Palestinian people I have had the honour in meeting. also Israeli activists.