UPDATE: According to a source who has approached +972 Magazine, Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner, who beat an activist in the face with his rifle (video below) is slated to be the next Deputy Commander of Bahad 1, the IDF’s school and training base for all of its officers
Here’s how we treat people who dare cycle where they’re not supposed to.
Yes, I said “cycle.” For this you are punished with a rifle to the head, in a bunt move that would make most major league baseball players jealous.
According to the WAFA news agency, “Israeli forces Saturday broke up with force a cycling tour around the Jordan Valley and assaulted the participants injuring and arresting a number of them.”
In this album of pictures on Facebook, one can clearly see this officer seemed to be in a pretty aggressive mood with more than one activist while walking around with his rifle in bunt position and a look that could kill.
17:05: I have requested a comment from the IDF spokesperson unit.
17:10: Just got this link, which shows a few 15 seconds before the hit:
17:40: According to this video from December 2011, the officer is the deputy commander of the Jordan Valley brigade, Shalom Eisner. In this clip he is thanking volunteers who help out in rescue operations.
20:17: Another picture from the event yesterday:
(photo: Hamzi Zbidat)
22:07: The IDF response:
The IDF Spokesperson’s unit said in response the event was very serious and that the Central Command chief had ordered a thorough investigation. “The inquiry will examine the circumstances which led to the incident documented in the video. Lessons will be drawn and the necessary steps will be taken.”
22:15: Praise for Lt. Col. Eisner is flooding the Israeli social media, here and here [Heb] for example.
22:30: A source who approached me and wishes to remain anonymous at this point has informed me that Lt. Col. Eisner is set to be the next deputy commander of Bahad 1 – the IDF’s training base for all of its officers. This piece of info could not be confirmed.
The IDF spokesperson in response: “We do not discuss IDF appointments in the media until they are signed and sealed. When appointments are confirmed, the media is notified.”
Leading Bahad 1 is considered to be one of the most prestigious jobs in the IDF. Some of its former commanders were Shaul Mofaz, Giora Eyland, Matan Vilnai, Elazar Stern and others who later became high-ranking generals or Chiefs of Staff. If Lt. Col. is reprimanded by the IDF for his conduct, this incident could block any future promotions.
The IDF might want to think twice if this is the kind of officer they want as an example to others.
22:35: Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner is the son of late Rabbi Benny Eisner [Heb], an icon of religious Zionism who also lived in th “Jewish House” in Abu Tor, East Jerusalem.
23:15: Haaretz brings response of National Union MK Michael Ben Ari:
“Well done to the IDF officer who did what Bibi and Aharonovich have no brain or courage to do,” Ben Ari said. “Radical leftists must be handled with a heavy hand. There was a tangible threat to the lives of the soldiers and the officer had no other choice. If it was a settler who was beaten we would not have heard the cries of the hypocrites on the left. Turns out they are not interested in human rights but the rights of terrorists and pro-Arabs.”
23:24: Amos Harel of Haaretz reports that Lt. Col. Eisner is to be suspended, yet says that in other similar cases a suspension does not necessarily mean the end of the officer’s career [Heb].
23:33: Lt. Col. Eisner responds: “I shouldn’t have raised my weapon like that, but those were 6 seconds out of two hours. Of course they didn’t show the part where they attacked us with sticks.”
00:07: PM Benjamin Netanyahu: “This behavior is not characteristic of IDF soldiers and commanders and should not be allowed in the IDF or in Israel.”
For additional original analysis and breaking news, visit +972 Magazine's Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. Our newsletter features a comprehensive round-up of the week's events. Sign up here.
anon
ps: anyone who believes there is something called a paid hasbara troll….please…is that your only way of undermining a valid opinion?
US Tax Payer
Dooms day for Israel is coming. Only a matter of time. The chips are falling in place. Egypt’s Mubarak who was paid to support Isreal is gone. Syria’s leader is also on his way out. Jordan King is next. The new “people’s” regimes will definitly do something about this and support a move into Israel along with Turkey. Yes Israel has the best weapons but the “best” is not what is needed to survive.
caden
The fact that this was put on you tube by those happy go lucky lads of the ISM just proves my point. They go looking for a provocation. Get it on video. Then has Lenin said the useful idiots run with it. Israel needs to treat this has a non-shooting war, which it is. And counter.
Jack
Caden,
Why shouldnt ISM distribute this video?
You know idf use youtube? Are they also “…looking for a provocation. Get it on video. ”
-
Or are you a hypocrite?
Wisdo
“Of course they didn’t show the part where they attacked us with sticks.”
Of course they didnt. Because that didnt happen. Since when do people on bicycles attack armed israeli soldiers with sticks. Im afraid that beggars belief, and its sad to see a military officer from any country lying like that to save his own bacon. Sad for his unit and his men.
max
@Jack,
Of course the ISM should post the video, this, after all, seems to have been their motivation to start with, and this motivation is legit.
It’s also legit to ask “what are the idf doing in the jordan valley anyway?”.
But, we’re then in the realm of politics, not human rights, and I thought that your comments refer to HR – or was I wrong?
I don’t think that Caden and (most) others justify the violence. Rather, they question your motivation for dealing with this subject, in an area rife with incomparably worse abuses. Simply saying that you have no way of influencing the other areas (and I dare say, you’ll find them in every single country around Israel) isn’t convincing: you’re an outsider, you know little, and unlike Ami and the other Israelis concerned with the values they have to live with, yours seems to have a very different motivation.
I’m partial to Israel. I like Ami’s posts because he brings up issues that are important to Israel’s health. However, sociology – and Israel’s history – tell us that people in democracies tend to correct their course better when the idea of democracy doesn’t include people that have doubtful claims to be affected by the decisions… and that’s where Ami’s direction seems to falter: calling for external help isn’t only a sign of weakness, it’s probably also counterproductive.
Jack
Max,
“But, we’re then in the realm of politics, not human rights, and I thought that your comments refer to HR – or was I wrong?
”
-
I havent raised the HR at all, I just find it interesting how people trying to come up with reasons not to criticize Israel. How am I an outsider by the way? How does I know little?
Piotr Berman
Max:
However, sociology – and Israel’s history – tell us that people in democracies tend to correct their course better when the idea of democracy doesn’t include people that have doubtful claims to be affected by the decisions…
I do not know where Max found examples for his thesis in sociology and Israel’s history. For starters, we would need to have two situations, one with “course corrected” and one with “course not corrected”. I seem to recall “Aristotelian proof” of similar claim. It went like that: people who do not have property or are too poor to pay substantial amount in taxes have doubtful claim to be affected by the decisions about the budget, so the suffrage should be limited to the people with some minimum of income or property. This was a pretty standard view back before 1840.
With external pressure examples go in all directions. Mild external pressure is very useful in a boomerang sort of way. For example, construction of nuclear power station is often controversial. A good trick is to build them near the border. When Czech Republic proposed a site very close to Austria there was a huge outcry in Austria and to a degree, in Germany, which made the construction project a matter of national pride. Similarly, French lined the border with Germany with nuclear power stations, Sweden build one as close to Denmark as geography allows etc.
Recently conservative parliament of Iran abolished stoning as a possible legal punishment. I do not think that it was in response to internal pressures. Clearly, domestic stoning lobby was very weak.
Dropping death penalty in Europe (and Israel) seems to involve a similar type of pressure. Basically, there is a group of countries in which (a) certain behavior is viewed as barbaric or backward (b) regionally, it is prestigious to belong to that group. In the case of Iran, the ideology is that their Sharia is civilized as contrasted with barbaric (and heretical) Wahhabi Sharia. Israel has ideology that it is civilized as contrasted with Egypt and Syria. Why, it is practically European, except that Europe is a cesspool and Israel is not.
Lennart
Why hasn’t this article been updated with Eisner’s own words? I read last night in the comments section that you (Ami Kaufman) were also already aware of what he has said (his hand being broken by the Danish guy prior to this clip), but it is not in your article.
You did feel the need however to add who his father was, which can only be explained by trying to use it to create a certain image and reaction from your target audience.
Since when is journalism: “leaving one side’s story out or adding information just for a gut-reaction”? That, and basing everything on a 2 minute clip out of a 2 hour confrontation, is not just poor journalism, it’s evil spirited propaganda.
annie
piotr, the key to understanding max is in his last claim couched in the framing of ‘ami’s direction faltering’ “calling for external help isn’t only a sign of weakness, it’s probably also counterproductive” iow, can everybody else just stay out of this please and then we can have the parties themselves work this out all by their lonesome where the superpower supported israel has to face off against those people with rocks and sticks. those internationals with their bicycles and cameras just add clutter and make it messy. and if we ask why the idf are in the jordan valley anyway, well, it’s political and everyone knows politics and human rights are separate categories, so why even go there? and the whole part about israel eating up all the land and being in the jordan valley to ethnically cleanse the people, that’s not a human rights issue, please. go away, everything will be fine if you leave the parties to work it out together. they are not justifying the violence, just your/our motivation. your heart is not pure and when they sense all hearts are pure then they will soften and peace will prevail, really. everyone just chill because it is the motivation of the others preventing peace. in any democracy these cyclists would be gunned down in the streets for wanting to cross the road, they got off lucky.
max
Piotr,
I’m not referring to situations in which an entity doesn’t have the power to resist an external pressure.
In other cases, it’s easier to accept an idea that came from within and doesn’t create the impression of giving up.
It’s that simple.
Obviously, I reason under the conviction that the Israeli society is strong and democratic enough to come up with its own self reflection. For this to happen, it’s best if the motivation of those who critique the situation overlaps to a high degree with that of the majority.
Ami Kaufman
@lennart – suggestion: before running to the comments section, read the whole post. it helps.
max
Annie, if you’d leave the politics aside you may come to the conclusion that the violence is part of the (in)human reaction prevalent in our lives, in all countries, in many contexts.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-border-police-beat-detain-9-year-old-jewish-boy-in-hebron-1.424635
Enough posts showed that this isn’t an Israeli phenomenon.
So unless your goal is politically motivated, what’s your message?
Lisbeth
To Ami Kaufmann:
Thanks to you and 972mag for being so quick in documenting what happened (to the Danish guy and more people)in the Jordan Valley in the weekend – today it is discussed in a lot of Danish newspapers as well as on the highest political level in Denmark.
In general 972mag is absolutely well written journalism; with interesting articles that gives deep and reflecting perspectives at things happening in Israel and Palestine.
Cool.
Lisbeth, Denmark
..::bEEp::..
“The inquiry will examine the circumstances which led to the incident documented in the video. Lessons will be drawn and the necessary steps will be taken.”
Lies.
Joseph
If there was only the smallest piece of truth in the Lieutnant’s claim that (at least) two fingers were broken, he wouldn’t have been able to hold that rifle and hit with it.
I’m sure that man’s a liar trying to save his skin.
Joseph
Oh, forgot, that IDF man’s a Lt. Colonel.
I watch ya
comment deleted, user banned
John Yorke
On a more general note, I wonder if this incident is yet one more indication of the bankruptcy in new ideas and stratagems to which Israeli society and its Middle East neighbours have become reduced. Scenes such as this have been an all too common occurrence in recent years and they seem to demonstrate an inability on both sides to move matters forward in any tangible fashion.
Israel, especially, appears far too risk-averse in its dealings with the outside world; it is becoming predictable in its attitudes, in its reactions to anything deemed hostile to its short-term interests.
This cannot be considered good policy by anyone’s standards.
Unless steps are taken to massively improve the image Israel now projects onto the world stage, that world may all too readily become disenchanted with this bad-boy persona that has emerged. For a people often referred to as being ‘a light unto the nations,’ this surely cannot be the sort of illumination they mean to convey.
Finding a way out of this 64 year-old impasse, this logjam of human foibles and short-sightedness, will be no easy matter. But there are always possibilities.
Http://yorketowers.blogspot.com
‘Israelis, Palestinians, Jews, Arabs; what have you done for us lately’? It’s a question the whole world is beginning to ask.
Maybe this could be the one answer everyone involved can use as a reply.
If it isn’t, then what else will ever be strong enough to break the stranglehold that still keeps this very persistent deadlock in being?
TLA
@Lisbeth do they discuss in Denmark what Dens are doing there to begin with? What did they do to cause that man to snap like that? I only saw the actual reaction of the officer, but 972mag carefully removed any portion of the video prior to that, that would probably explain it.
I am confident that the Dens brought it upon themselves. Knowing these “peace” activists (yes, we have them in the US too), I prefer calling them “terrorist supporters”, because that’s what they are. Its easy to live in Denmark, I’ve been there, a wonderful country. People don’t get blown up in buses or shelled by rockets on a daily basis. You should stay there if you don’t want to get hurt.
TLA
@Jack: “Do you mean there could be reasons, justifications to smash unarmed civilians on the mouth?”
Have I justified that? No. I just said that the Dens brought it upon themselves. They confronted the police (army in this case, as it is a military zone), didn’t obey orders (they must obey local government orders, Dens or not, that’s part of the agreement they entered when they passed the border), and probably got violent either physically or verbally. I’ve seen that before, no wonder the video is edited so that we don’t see what had really happened.
So no, the violence is unjustified. But I’m confident that the Dens broke the law. Here, in the US, they would have been arrested and deported. I cannot understand why it hasn’t happened in Israel.
Jack
TLA,
“I just said that the Dens brought it upon themselves”
-
Thats called a justification. Apparently its illegal to be an unarmed peaceful protester and its legal to smash the same on the mouth. Its very hard to still push the mantra of “only democracy” after such moves.
max
Jack, you’ve read on this site in the past couple of days several posts showing that ‘such’ behavior happens around the world, including in democratic countries, notably US, France… so why this pretense?
Lennart
Hi Ami.
Yesterday and today before posting I read the whole article as well as more than one page of comments, so I’ll try again:
Point out to me please where you mention Eisner’s words that his hand was broken (the article only mentions him talking about sticks), and convince me of the need to add his father’s information, other than giving the target audience a good shot of the “oohhh religious zionist”-drugs.
Suggestion: just reply to the (same) questions asked this time, it helps.
Jack
Max,
Oh so you mean if a person rape another its ok to do it? If someone murder someone we all can do it? You see this is what I raised in my message to you earlier. When Israel is criticized some people want to talk about other things, states.
max
Jack, you’re now being dishonest. Your comment “Its very hard to still push the mantra of “only democracy” after such moves” clearly implies that in democracies such ‘moves’ don’t happen.
.
What’s the problem with looking at other countries as benchmark? Shouldn’t you be the one to explain why you require Israel to behave better than – say – the US or France, or even Russia or China?
Jack
Max,
The thing to constant divert the focus from the focal point is dishonest. Yes Israel love to portray itself as the only democracy, however we see Israel using the same intimidating tactics and principles as their neighbours.
Who cares about France, US, China its equally wrong who matter does it.
Ami Kaufman
@lennart – eisner never said his hand was broken. some of his colleagues spoke for him, but he ever said those words himself. i suggest once again you brush up on the story.
Ami Kaufman
@lennart – let’s say the Dane broke the guy’s hand (I don’t believe it, but let’s just say he did). Do you still think a high ranking officer should have kept his cool, or are you a tit-for-tat kind of guy. The way i see it, an officer of that rank failed whether he was provoked or not provoked. That’s why he’s high ranking. To keep cool. Not to punish as he pleases and cause further injury. That is not a soldier’s job.
Lennart
Haaretz: “Eisner recounted his version of events, and said that the youth that he beat had hit him beforehand, and even broke two of his fingers.” (source: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/video-senior-idf-officer-beats-pro-palestinian-activist-with-rifle-1.424454)
Ynet: “Eisner told his commanders that the activists assaulted and injured him, but admitted he should not have resorted to violence” (source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4216964,00.html)
“Lt. Col. Eisner claimed that some of the protesters attacked him with sticks and broke one of his fingers. He also suffered a major injury to his wrist, which required a cast.” (source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4216891,00.html)
Must be multiple Eisners.
And even if HE didnt say it (which he did), you just said you knew people around him saying it happened…still not important enough to mention in the article? Then please also only report things said by the Danish protester and not his buddies.
Now that we’re brushing up; what about the importance of noticing who (and what) his dad was?
max
Jack “Who cares about France, US, China its equally wrong who matter does it.”
You’re mixing things up. It’s wrong (the violence), and it has nothing to do with a specific country, so your “only democracy” mantra is out of context. But you probably don’t need a context or justification to repeat your disdain
Ami Kaufman
@lennart – I chose not to answer your questions, just as you ignore my assertions. I;m fine with it.
.
BTW, it wasn’t me that suspended him. It was the IDF. It wasn’t me that reprimanded him. It was the Prime Minister, the President, and every other sane person with a brain who knows a thug when they see it.
.
(At the time when the post was written, the accounts were from colleagues – not eisner).
.
I’m outta here, you can keep protecting that animal as much as you want.
Jack
Worth to note is that this man didnt just hit the danish guy, in the video, he smash someone else down with the same type of move, also he bang his gun in the back of the man in white shirt (the suckerpunch picture). So it was rather systematic rant than a mere incident or clash between the danish guy and this soldier.
Ami Kaufman
@jack – exactly. @lennart and the others here who feel the need to defend this guy, seem to find it very easy to ignore the guy was beating up everything in his path.
Jack
Max,
You miss the point that these attacks havent happend in those other places you mentioned and if they indeed happend the man would be kicked out instantly and he sure wouldnt be hailed. These incidents are just one in many violent incidents Israel are involved in.
max
Jack, no, I didn’t miss: you missed the posts that reported similar and worse incidents, notably by the US in the past few months.
As for ‘hailing’ – I haven’t seen it here, though I’m convinced that you’ll find it on other sites… just as you’ll find people hailing Braivik and Merah (no comparison intended).
Jack
Max,
I find it on israeli news site. Like at Ynet-news one could read how rabbis defend him, and also the editorials.
max
Jack, thanks for the pointer, but I don’t read there what you seem to imply… “Soldiers, officers who served under Lt.-Col. Shalom Eisner ask that army take his ‘many achievements’ into account when disciplining him over beating of Danish pro-Palestinian activist ” – this is quite natural, isn’t it? I don’t see here justification – do you?
.
I found it ironic that the next article there was about Raed Salah’s return to Israel, and how emblematic this is to Israel’s democratic character
TLA
@Jack:
“I just said that the Dens brought it upon themselves”
-
“Thats called a justification.” – No, that’s not. Apparently we’re not speaking the same language. Justification is saying something is justified, which I didn’t say. What I said was that neither part is innocent.
.
“Apparently its illegal to be an unarmed peaceful protester” – Might very well be. I’m sorry that you expect the whole world to adhere to your personal beliefs, but if you’re in a foreign place, do take the liberty of learning what are the governing laws. There’s a military rule going on on the West Bank, and the IDF sets the laws. Yes, its occupation, no-one denies it. Geneva convention not only allows, it REQUIRES the occupying force to maintain peace.
.
“its legal to smash the same on the mouth.” – no, its not. That’s why the officer has been punished.
.
“Its very hard to still push the mantra of “only democracy” after such moves.” – why is that? Because he has been punished and publicly criticized? Because he was removed from his position? Not only that it proves beyond any doubt the democratic nature of the Israeli government, it shows that the Israelis go far beyond the minimum requirements of the rule of law. I actually see this incident as a positive proof of the Israeli pragmatic rule. In the US, while the offending policeman would similarly punished, the offending demonstrator would be in jail. These Dens are free, correct me if I’m wrong.
.
I believe that all these “peace” activists and their supporters should stop with the double standards and look in the mirror. What would your local police force do in a similar situation?
.
Living in California, I’ve seen much more evidence of police brutality, especially during the last year’s Occupy-Something demonstrations. Look at what happened in Oakland for example, or Berkley. I admire the patience the Israelis have handling these “activists” that support the murderers who try to kill Israelis every day and night, and occasionally succeed.
Jack
Max,
They try to frame it like people here, looking for a justifcation.
TLA,
“I just said that the Dens brought it upon themselves”
”
Which means, there are certain incidents where its justified to punch unarmed civilians on the month. You see? Of course you are looking for a justification.
-
“Yes, its occupation, no-one denies it. Geneva convention not only allows, it REQUIRES the occupying force to maintain peace.”
-
You mean “maintaining peace” is through punching unarmed civilians on the month? You know the occupying force have a obligation to defend and keep civilians from harms way?
-
“. I actually see this incident as a positive proof of the Israeli pragmatic rule. In the US, while the offending policeman would similarly punished, the offending demonstrator would be in jail. These Dens are free, correct me if I’m wrong.”
-
You have to show me proof where unarmed civilians who are punched in the month (or rather head) are sent to jail in the U.S.
-
“What would your local police force do in a similar situation?”
-
Probably what this soldiers comrades did, showed restraint. If you cannot do that, this job arent not for you.
max
Jack, I’m afraid that if we don’t agree on the meaning of words there’s little discussion possible…
Enjoy the ‘meanings’ and interpretations
TLA
@Jack – “Which means, there are certain incidents where its justified to punch unarmed civilians on the month. You see? Of course you are looking for a justification.” – I’m not sure what you just did here. Did you just invent a quote that I have never said? Because I think I couldn’t be more clear when I said that it is NOT justified!
.
“You mean “maintaining peace” is through punching unarmed civilians on the month? You know the occupying force have a obligation to defend and keep civilians from harms way?” – no, I mean that the occupying force CAN declare a “peaceful unarmed” demonstration illegal. You asked if it is illegal – I explained why it very well may be. Nothing less and nothing more.
.
“You have to show me proof where unarmed civilians who are punched in the month (or rather head) are sent to jail in the U.S.” – there are many. First example from Google: http://www.myfoxal.com/Global/story.asp?S=13578005. The fact that the suspect has been beaten says nothing to his innocence, just as with the Dens. Satisfied?
.
“Probably what this soldiers comrades did, showed restraint. If you cannot do that, this job arent not for you.” – I totally agree with the last sentence. Apparently – so does IDF. For some reason you keep ignoring that.
Devin
I believe it when I see punishement. This behavior is the trade mark of IDF, do not tell me never happened before. As long as IDF do have respect human, we will see this type of act and and expect more violent than this. BIBI said he will investigate, he saw the film, whatelse he wants to findout.
TLA
@Devin – I know slander when I see it: “This behavior is the trade mark of IDF”. Proof please.
.
“BIBI said he will investigate, he saw the film, whatelse he wants to findout.” – I’ll repeat: what we saw was 5 seconds. Do you know what happens if you poke a dog with a stick for two hours? It will bite you. If you then claim the dog is viscous and should be killed – will you be lying? Yes, you will.
.
You’re doing the same with this case. While the officer was obviously wrong, he was just as obviously provoked. Showing a 5 seconds video out of a 4-hours event only proves this point.
Devin
Hi TLA, I do not know why you are defending this act or as you said ” justified “, or just because happened in France of US or somewhere else this violent act against unarm person is ok? I am sorry to say that, this shocking video prove to everyone, Col. was wrong and he should pay the price, he should be punished by government of Israel.
annie
max, jews only roads is political. colonialization is political. ethnic cleansing is political and the occupation is political. why would you leave politics out of it. the soldiers work for the state, that’s political. as for it happening everywhere in the world please tell me a setting where the roads are only for jews only. i need to put this in context and i am really not understanding why you are diverting away from what is happening here. are settlements not political either? of course it’s political.
annie
international law is political too, and 2 separate systems of law is political. military jurisdiction is political. when i wrote “if we ask why the idf are in the jordan valley anyway, well, it’s political and everyone knows politics and human rights are separate categories, so why even go there? ” i was making a mockery of your ptv, but it’s very telling you agree with it. apartheid is also political. civil rights & civil liberties and human rights, it’s all political.
Michael W.
I’ve seen people mention ‘Jew only roads’. Are tourists, foreign residents, and gentile Israelis not allowed on these roads?
Devin
Annie, based on history teller and facts, everything runs based on politics. This violent act is policy of occupation power, they have to do that otherwise they can not keep these lands. They have torture people, they have to shoot people, and they have act like South Africa under they white government. South Africa had sign for White and Black, and Israel has for Jews and Arabs, What is the differen, if it is not Apartied government then what is it?
Greg Pollock
Strangely, because unplanned, this is what nonviolence is supposed to do–reveal hatred by absorbing it. The anger exhibited by the IDF officer reflects his inability to accept, not just dissent, but a human other, as much a person as oneself. The West Bank occupation is being subsidized indirectly by the EU and US; these cyclists move in a space where civil and human rights have meaning thereby. That is, EU and US support makes this space something other than a pure occupation for, alas only, non Palestinians. So Bibi condemns the act.
.
I guess what I am trying to say is that there is a way to stand one’s ground, with risk, evoking the ambiguity of who exactly “owns” this space. Neither Israel, the US, the EU,nor Palestinians do in toto. This clearly enrages at least one (so probably more) IDF officer. And that, tiny as it is, is progress.
.
But then I didn’t have my face butted by an automatic gun.
.
I guess it is obvious that places like +972 keep these events alive. And that is equally, essentially, a part of nonviolence.
.
There is no talk of “solution” here; only the act, what caused it, both proximately and deeply. And that talk is also part of nonviolence. Or so I say.