by David Wilder,
A couple of days ago a new youtube video surfaced, filmed just outside my Beit Hadassah home in Hebron. It shows an Israeli soldier, guarding on the road outside the building, being first verbally, and then physically attacked, first by one Arab, and then by a second, who joined in. The soldier, realizing he is being threatened from two sides, loads his weapon, pointing it at the attackers, who then leave.
Following release of this video, the soldier, named David, who belonged to the Nachal IDF division, was relieved of his post, put on trial, jailed and told that he would no longer serve in a combat unit.
There are still a few unanswered questions about the soldier and his punishment. The IDF first claimed that he’d been punished because of ‘unnecessary violence’ against the Arabs who attacked him. They later changed that, claiming that he is a ‘problematic soldier,’ having been involved in disputes with his commanding officers.
I was told, by friends of his, serving here in Hebron, that this incident and its ramifications have ‘broken him.’ They related that he did have incidents that may have brought about some kind of punishment, but not nearly as severe as he was sentenced to, (twenty days in prison) and that he would not have been banished from his army unit.
In other words, he was definitely harshly punished for defending himself against Arab aggression.
As an aside, but an important note: Young men work very hard to succeed in combat units. They must endure rough basic training, long marches, with full equipment loads, and then proceed to ‘advanced training’ sessions which are no less trying than basic training. After months of extreme physical and also mental exertion, they ‘graduate’ into active units, which serve in places like the Golan Heights, the border with Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt or Gaza, and areas in Judea and Samaria, like Hebron.
Hebron is considered to be one of the most difficult posts. There are frequent ‘alerts,’ there is tension, as soldiers must remain very alert for long periods of time, and the hours they work are not easy. With that, many soldiers here find their work rewarding; they develop positive bonds with many people here, both Hebron residents and visitors from around the world, they are serving in Hebron, which many find to be a unique experience, and they understand that here they are serving Am Yisrael, the people of Israel and the State of Israel, in as tangible way as possible.
The media immediately picked up the video and broadcast it on Israeli television. One TV news host asked the correspondent what should be done in such a case. The reporter answered that the ‘orders’ are for the soldier to ‘put down his head, look the other way and ignore them.’ The news anchor replied, ‘I take my hat off to anyone who can do that.’
Very quickly word spread of David’s punishment. A facebook page was opened, protesting his punishment, with soldiers posting photos of themselves, many times with their faces hidden, with notes saying, “I’m with David, the Nachal soldier.”
The page has over 100,000 ‘likes.’
Hebron’s Jewish community also conducted a demonstration yesterday, opposite the base where David served, until being jailed.
The issue at point is not simple. Clearly the IDF must enforce codes of action and also of discipline. However, it does not stand to reason that a soldier is punished for defending himself against Arab aggression.
This problem is not new. In the past, soldiers in Hebron, and in other places were punished, including imprisonment, for defending themselves against rock-thowing Arabs, and fire-bomb attacks. Senior officers were dismissed from the IDF for defending themselves against anarchist-foreigners, who attacked them and endangered their lives. In the past I told many visitors who asked about self-defense: ‘It’s permissible to use your weapon if you’re dead. If you’re still alive, it’s forbidden.’ This may sound silly or exaggerated, but unfortunately, it’s almost true.
What really happened with David from the Nachal division? Simply, he was set up. There’s an organization in Hebron called Youth against Settlements. It’s run by an ‘old friend’ Issa Amru, with whom I’ve had multiple run-ins. What he does is ‘set up’ soldiers, and other security personnel, like David. He sends a few Arabs to begin a provocation, with at least one or two others in the rear, with cameras rolling. A soldier, border policeman, or even a civilian is verbally, and/or physically attacked. The victim responds. The entire incident is filmed, edited and posted on youtube. The result is an arrest, trial and many times, conviction, as happened with David, the Nachal soldier.
The ramifications are exceedingly serious. First, this blots Israel’s good name. The US State Department released a report reprimanding Israel for attacks against Arabs (palestinians) while commending PA ‘security forces.’ Such ‘admissions’ by Israel of ‘unnecessary violence’ against Arabs, even when they are clearly the instigators, is similar to kicking a soccer ball into your opponent’s goal for him.
But more disturbing is the influence on soldiers. Such incidents lower their morale and cause them, most problematically, to hesitate. Certainly there are times when a soldier or officer must ‘stop and think.’ But there are other situations, when many people’s lives could be at stake, when the person must act instinctively. If they hesitate, even for a moment, the results can be catastrophic. If a soldier, when attacked, must hesitate, stop and think before reacting, he many lose his life and many others may, too. It is unthinkable that a person should be trained, given a uniform and arms, sent out to protect civilians, and then told to refrain from acting when the situation calls for immediate action.
And of course, these event cause great joy and comfort to the enemy, who realizing his victory, continues on the same road, continuing to goad soldiers and civilians, hoping to bring them too, to their knees. Over the past few days I’ve seen numerous incidents whereby soldiers, at the same location next to Beit Hadassah, are baited by Arab youth of all ages, with the soldier left with little recourse but to look the other way, and walk away.
Today the IDF officially forbade soldiers from using Facebook as a means to protest such incidents, as David the Nachal soldier’s punishment. It seems to me that this attempt to subdue public objections will fail. To the contrary, it will only fan the flames of turbulence amongst the brave young IDF warriors, who ask, rightly, ‘what do you want from us?’ As they write on their facebook photos, ‘we are with David the Nachalite.’
The root of this issue is, ‘what will they say,’ the ‘they’ being Obama and Kerry, the EU’s Ashton, and other anti-Israel, pro-Arab world leaders. So, who comes first? Our men and women in uniform, their lives and the lives of civilians, or world opinion?
The answer should be clear, after sixty six years of independence.
Isn’t this incident eerily similar to what’s happening on a larger scale. Little David (Israel) is being threatened with nuclear annihilation by Muslim bully, Iran, and Israel not Iran is faced with threats by the world for defending itself. Small incidents merely reflect larger issues.
@ wpapke:
Not strange at all.
The command of the “idf” thrives on sabotage, lies and fabrications. Please research the process used by them to select the latest chief of general staff.
The soldier was there because that was his task as appointed. After the fact the creeps found a way to backpedal or at least try.
A sorry set of garbage up there.
@ wpapke: What happen to Eisner was despicable.
Bear Klein Said:
The story gets muddled. According to Haaretz he was charged and court martialed PRIOR to this incident. If so why was he still standing a post? I don’t know about the IDf but when I was in the US army if you had a court martial and were awaiting sentencing you were also relieved of duty until sentence could imposed. You certainly wouldn’t have stood guard duty. Something just doesn’t flow here.
I find it so incredibly difficult to understand the motives and actions of the IDF. Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner was relieved of command for doing exactly what he should have done. Now a young soldier is jailed and relieved of combat duty for doing precisely what he should have done. It’s clear from the video that he faced certain attack and loss of his weapon if he hadn’t responded as he did. I applaud both the LTC and the young soldier for showing the restraint they they did. I can’t imagine IDF morale can stay high if the brass continues to punish the rank and file for doing what they need to do to survive.
@ Bear Klein:
My Mother-in-law’s method that she learned from a Black woman who lived place on her Dad’s in Honey Creek,TX. You will have figure out the proportions to you own taste. Okra, onion, green pepper, celery, [chopped],cooked or fried, bacon [ any type turkey, beef, as long as it’s smoked] sausage [spicy,] shrimp, chicken add whatever meat you please or non, 1can diced tomatoes, V8 juice 6 oz., 1tsp, sugar, 2TBS vinegar, salt, pepper, cayenne [to taste]. This recipe can be double, tripled, “is the word Bessel cook”? Sauté vegetable, add tomatoes & juice, cook 2 hrs. or so, serve over rice cooked in chicken broth.
@ honeybee: What do you put in your gumbo?
@ Bear Klein:
Shur-nuff
IDF says solider in video DID NOT get in trouble over this incident but got in trouble because he was violent with his commanders.
@ the phoenix:
Gumbo turned out perfect, I was even allowed a pillow last night!!!!
@ honeybee:
Thank you hb,
PRECISELY my feelings…..
(With all due respect, counselor)
Buzz of the Orient Said:
You remind me of a relative of mine [ voted for Obama] who said, in response to Israeli attacks on Gaza, ” I so much prefer it when the Jews at victims, we receive the World’s sympathy”. I was stunned and replied, “but then we’re dead”!!! ” Oh well”, she said,” I guess so, but we would be more socially acceptable”. Since then I have adopted the attitude, Screw you, Iam a Jew, I’m a Jew, screw you.
To hell with what the ‘world’ thinks. When all else fails, recall August 1929. That showed the Hebron Arabs and the brits for what they really are.
I’m somewhat conflicted here. On the one hand I AM concerned about world public opinion because the Israelis, not without arrogance, are perpetrating their “price tag” vandalism but also because of incidents like this, and on the other hand the IDF must, as another has said above, show the savages “the back of their hand”.
Why my conflict? Do we not see the rise in anti-Semitism around the world? Is it not blamed on Israel notwithstanding Israel’s right just as is the right of any nation to defend itself and its people? Sometimes I feel that Israel might just as well go the distance and become the vicious aggressor it is reputed to be, because nobody can think worse of Israel than they do already (including J street which I am happy to see was excluded from a Jewish organization that SUPPORTS Israel) so why not? Maybe the solution is to counter the method of the savages with their own method. Set them up. Have a hidden cameraman film the incidents from the beginning, showing the provocation. Could that help?
This current Judenrat acts exactly the same as all its predecessors. They punish Jews for defending themselves and cringe in the presence of the goyim whom they treat as the masters they must always appease.
For that matter, how in hell is anyone expected to perform guard duty with unloaded firearms? Ask any American cop about that and he’d laugh in your face.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
I concur. He actually stopped violence against him because the Arab back offed after he realized his Virgins where about to appear before him and they were probably ugly. When you are weak you invite violence. When you are strong you deter. I know this first hand in similar life situations.
Yes the answer is sadly, tragically, deplorably crystal clear, after 66 years, – world opinion!
Just one bullet in the head of such instigating youth would put an end to the entire charade.
As a sabra friend of mine once told me, Arabs are like dogs. You can’t reason with them but when you show them the back of your hand they understand.
This will not change until the time that the GOI cares more about the G-d of Israel and His chosen people than it does about what the goyim will say.
KOL HAKAVOD to soldier DAVID!
130000 likes mean to send a clear and firm message to the political generals. The message is… Enough is enough.
The people has had it with the use of our kids and us to support extreme unJewish political agendas.
No more rubber bullets, no more sponge bullets, no more paint ball rifles. No more releases of Islamic beasts.
No more apologies to enemies.
If attacked or while protecting civilians from attacks by marauding Islamic garbage, deal with the Islamic vermin as soldier David did.
As to the gesturing pseudo leadership.