Israel, as usual in security cases and almost any sensitive matter, has slapped a gag order on the arrest of three Jewish terror suspects in the case of the arson attack on the historic Church of Loaves and Fishes in the Galilee. The attack left a substantial portion of the edifice damaged along with degrading anti-Christian graffiti scrawled on the walls of the holy site.
Yinon Reuveni, Hilltop Youth extremist, alleged Jewish terrorist
A knowledgeable Israeli source identified the names of the culprits are Yinon Reuveni (age 19), Mordechai Gedalia Margalit (age 18), Yehuda Yedidia Asraf (age unknown, but possibly a minor). Reuveni has been slapped by the Shin Bet with an administrative restraining order barring him from entering the Territories (possibly why he chose to “branch out” to a target inside Israel proper). Margalit too received similar treatment from the authorities.
One suspect is from the Israeli town of Ofakim. At least one other is from a settlement though I haven’t yet identified which one. Two of them were arrested in Yad Benjamin. I hope any Israeli readers will spread this gagged news as widely as possibly on social media to begin the process of filleting censorship.
Calcalist article announcing Paul Landes’ “secret” counter-terror job with undisclosed Israeli security agency
Israel has an entire Shin Bet unit devoted to fighting Jewish terror, yet it took them weeks to arrest the culprits. Now they will be interrogated. They might be tried and if justice is lucky (it usually isn’t in such cases) they might spend a week or month in jail. In the meantime, the Knesset is debating a law that would provide the death penalty in terror attacks. By “terror” they’re speaking of Arab terror, of course. Jewish terror is usually unprosecuted. One of the few Jewish terrorists who has received a life sentence is Yigal Amir. And many in high places lobby regularly for his release (a poll found that 30% of Israelis favored his pardon). Even those who murder Palestinians get released from prison, and in many instances pardoned by the President.
Let us not hear from Israeli apologists that these youth are aberrations, that all of Israel denounces their acts. Where do you think they learned to hate? Not just from their parents or a renegade rabbi. They learned from their prime minister, his cabinet and the extremist legislators who rule the land. They are doing what many mainstream Israelis would like to do but can’t.
Let’s also not make the mistake of saying anti-Christian hate is a marginal affair in Israel. Jack Teitel, another Jewish terrorist serving a lengthy jail term for killing Israeli police and attempting to kill Hebrew University Prof. Zeev Sternhell with a bomb, severely injured a Christian missionary by exploding a bomb at his home.
Hatred of Christianity is only part of the toxic stew on which these settlers feast. Even deeper is their hate of Muslims in general and Palestinians in particular. There isn’t even any comfort in saying that at least they don’t hate Jews, since they do. As I noted, Teitel injured Zeev Sternhell in a bomb blast. Before that, he posted flyers offering a reward for the killing of Israeli Jewish peace activists. In other words, these settlers hate anyone not like them. And it isn’t just theoretical or abstract hate. This is hate backed with deeds. They’re more than willing to kill for their “ideals.”
In short, this is a deviant form of Judaism that I call idolatry. The worship of the false god of Judaic purity. Precisely the sort of worship prophets like Isaiah railed against. The sort of aberrant behavior Yeshayah Leibowitz so presciently called “Judeo-Nazism.” It is the sort of hate that felled a prime minister (Yitzhak Rabin) and will destroy the country if it isn’t extirpated root and branch (an unlikely prospect given the enormous power wielded by the settler movement within Israeli politics).
While we’re on a roll here exposing Israeli gag orders, let’s blow the cover off another Israeli “secret agent.” Israeli attorney, Paul Landes, has been until recently the director of a money-laundering unit which traced terror financing. This was a public position. Calcalist reported, perhaps inadvertently (here’s the censored version of the story), that Landes is stepping down from this role. He is moving to a new “secret” job whose particulars may not be reported, according to the media outlet. Undoubtedly, he will be working for the Shin Bet or Mossad doing precisely the same thing: tracing terror financing by Arab militant groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and others. Why his job should be secret when similar positions in the U.S. Justice Department (possibly even the CIA) are not is an excellent question.
Undoubtedly, as soon as someone in the intelligence services reads this the Calcalist page will be taken down. So I’ve saved a screenshot.
Silverstein has published Tikun Olam since 2003, It exposes the secrets of the Israeli national security state. He lives in Seattle, but his heart is in the east. He publishes regularly at Middle East Eye and Jacobin Magazine. His work has also appeared in Al Jazeera English, The Nation, Truthout and other outlets.
They aren’t culprits, they are suspects.
It was publish yesterday http://www.haaretz.co.il/news/law/1.2681502
@james: If you are sympathetic to them or their crime this isn’t the right site for you.
I wish whoever did it to sit for a long time behind bars. But before we (or the police) know more, you might have risked their future by publishing this in case they are innocent.
You have a lot of trust in the Israeli justice system all of the sudden.
@ james: In case she is innocent? Really? She didn’t kill Beck? Who did then? Or are you arguing the one crooked paid-off witness told the truth & Beck ran the red light? That’s the truth? And Palti is innocent?
I don’t have any trust in the Israeli justice system & neither should you or any Israeli.
Wrong thread. Plati was involved in an accident. Those 3 are suspects!
Full Definition of CULPRIT. 1 : one accused of or charged with a crime
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culprit
Shame!
*ring*
Shame!
*ring*
Too bad American Christians refuse to read this and other articles. most American Christians support Jewish terrorists. As a Jew, I find what Israel does appalling and putting Jews outside of Israel at risk.
“the only Jewish terror suspect who received a life sentence is Yigal Amir” – the following Jewish terrorists received a life sentence: jack teitel; alan goodman; nir efroni; eli vanunu; david ben shimul; dani eisman; ami poper; nachshon walss; Daniel morly; gur hamel; asher wisgan.
“many in high places lobby regularly for his release” – who?
I googled them: Jack Teitel killed Jews. All the others except Ami Poper were released after serving only part of their sentence. (Asher Wisgan commited suicide, otherwise he would be free by now too.)
That is because the sentence for murder in Israel in 25 years and in many cases it ends approx at 15 years for good behaviour etc.
Absurd, but this is the law in Israel.
@ gideon: You can get a life sentence and serve 15 yrs? I don’t believe it. Further, none of these even served 25 yrs. Many sentences were commuted.
So do Palestinians get out of jail after 8 to 10 years also, like these guys? Hmm?
Elisabeth:
a. Richard claimed: ” the only Jewish terror suspect who received a life sentence is Yigal Amir”. As the list shows this claim is false. Many jewish terrorists where sentenced for life.
b. Yonah avrushmi was sentenced for life for the murder of a jew. Nevertheless His sentence was latter caped to 27 years.
c. The following jewish terrorists sentenced for life are still in jail: eli vanunu; gur hamel; yakov teitel.
d. “do Palestinians get out of jail after 8 to 10 years also, like these guys?” – yes indeed. In 1985 israel released 380 Palestinians sentenced for life, including 76 who actually murdered jews. Numerous Palestinians where released since then during the oslo process and in other times like the shalit deal. I don’t have accurate numbers but it seems obvious that many Palestinians are released way before there sentence is over. Indeed, that is typically the argument of those who demand capping the sentence of jewish prisoners
No, they spend life in prison for knowing someone who knows someone who threw rocks (sarcasm).
@ eli: You honestly mean to say you’re not aware of Israelis lobbying for Amir’s release or commutation of his sentence? On what planet are you living? Try this: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3320266,00.html 30% of Israelis want pardon for Amir.
Further, how many of those who received life sentences were pardoned, commuted or otherwise had their sentences reduced?
Did you actually read the article?
1. It isn’t about lobbying. It is about people answering a survey. Completely unrelated.
2. The headline doesn’t represent the article. Only 5% support an early pardon (now) while 25% support him getting the usual upper limit of 25 yrs and 69% support treating him differently and not limiting (לקצוב) his sentence.
@ james: You read the article and the poll results incorrectly. 25% support his being pardoned after serving 25 years. That means wiping out his conviction and his guilt after being released from prison. In other words, they too support his pardon, and the original headline saying 30% support pardoning him remains correct.
Capping someones sentence doesn’t mean “wiping out his conviction”. How did you come up with this? Doe being released after serving ones sentence, on let’s say manslaughter, means pardoning? It’s mean the person served his sentence. That is it!
The 25% believe Amir should be treated like any other murderer. Not more not less.
You claim: “many in high places lobby regularly for his release”. The article you quote does not support your claim.
Honoring the heritage of Baruch Goldstein.