An activist from “Machsom Watch” (Checkpoint Watch) called a soldier from “Nachshon” regiment a nazi and beast while the soldier was checking the comers and going of the Tul-Karem zone checkpoint. The incident took place a month ago.
The offended soldier decided to break the usual silent soldiers display in face of such behavior, and press charges.
According to the soldier’s colleague there was nothing out of the ordinary in the security check up, and for no apparent reason the activist just started swearing at him, calling him a Nazi, Beast and “a piss-head soldier”.
“She treated him in a demeaning manner,” the soldiers say, “for no reason. Most of the time we just let it go and don’t respond, but this was too much. The soldier was deeply hurt.”
The incident was reported to the commanders of the section, which investigated and concurred the activist’s behavior was “inappropriate”. A military personal said, “We have a practical relationship with the women of “Machsom Watch”. Sometimes they even send us reports, and the regiment commander go over them and come to conclusions about the soldiers’ behavior in the checkpoint. But this was too much.”
Other soldiers from this section said, “This is not the first time we’re doing our job when the women of “Machsom Watch” come to the checkpoints. Here and there we had some small incidents, but this was excessive, so he decided to press charges for insulting a public server.”
Taibe police department confirms that an investigation has started, and when the activist will be located she will be brought for questioning.
The day after the incident, a letter from the women of the organization was sent, supposedly carrying an apology. What it actually had in it were more slogans (Such as “The Israeli occupation corrupts the Israeli soul) but nothing about the incident. The activist in question who had written the letter, only pointed out that she was against the checkpoints.
And that, in short, is the problem with Human Right movements in Israel, and forgive me for switching from a reporting tone to a personal one. Don’t get me wrong, Human Rights movements are very important for self-criticism and the preservation of a nation’s moral standards. The trouble is that more often then none, the Human Rights movements in Israel don’t really care about Human Rights. They are driven by hate, either anti-Semitism or a grudge against Israel for that reason or another. That’s why they hold a double standard. It’s a crime when someone mistreats a Palestinian, but you can say and do what ever you want to the Jews. Even in their web site they write about “The excessive Israeli response to the El Aksa Intifada”. Just to remind you, hundreds of Israelis had been murdered during that Intifada, the last of them just a few weeks ago. You can actually hear them say in so many words “So what?â€
I call for true Human Rights movements to take a stand and make themselves heard. To criticize and monitor both sides equally, and to criticize and monitor themselves as well.
And most importantly, try to be driven by true ideology, not by hate.
May 24, 2006 at 9:15 am
Human rights organizations are not accountable to any governing body. They exploit the rhetoric of human rights and humanitarianism for political activity that often has little to do with human rights. They get away with it most of the time because of the “halo effect” associated with the human rights field.
You are correct in calling for a true human rights organization. If one existed, it would have condemmed this incident just as it would condemn the opposite situation.
May 25, 2006 at 12:13 pm
Amen, EB. Well said.
If ever it was optimum timing to break out of your reporting mode and into your personal one, that was it. Bravo, my friend.
May 31, 2006 at 3:43 am
Forgive you? EB, I love your “personal tone”