Israeli ex-generals condemn extremist settler violence, help Palestinian farmers
A group of senior Israeli ex-military officials helped Palestinian farmers on Tuesday to harvest olives, in a gesture of solidarity amid an upsurge in extremist settler violence targeting Palestinians in the West Bank."When I see what is going on here, when I see these guys come... and hit women and kids, it reminds me of stories from my parents from the time when the Jewish people suffered," said Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Eyal Ben-Reuven, who compared the extremist settler attacks to pogroms.Ben-Reuven said he began organizing a group of around 30 senior military officials, including six generals, several months ago following an increase in extremist settler violence.
The IDF has said it condemns violence and it operates to maintain security in the West Bank."Occupation is the main problem of Israeli society. I believe we must deal with it, we cannot ignore it. We must try to solve it together with the Palestinians," said Col. (ret.) Doron Meinert.Ben-Reuven, others concerned over Israel's global reputationBen-Reuven and others said they were also concerned about the impact of settler violence on Israel's global reputation."Strategically, tactically, it's creating problems for the state of Israel in the West and the United States," said Jonatan Yoni, a former brigadier-general, who said he was also motivated by the plight of Palestinian farmers and by opposition to Israeli annexation of the West Bank.Meinert, who now dedicates much of his time to volunteering in the West Bank in support of Palestinians, also said that the IDF aided the settlers.Some Israeli soldiers, Meinert added, share the extremist settlers' belief that only Jews "have the right to this area and that the Arabs should be expelled or stay here as second (class) residents."
The IDF has said it is the people's army and reflects the full spectrum of views in Israeli society.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The Jerusalem Post cuts the Yesh Din figures from the Reuters report: 180 physical attacks on olive harvesters in 35 days, with the Israeli military present in more than 23% of cases. Its own report a fortnight earlier gave the army present in at least a quarter of cases. Without these figures a reader takes the army's statement that it maintains security at face value.
How we know
- Al-Monitor reported“The Israeli military was present in more than 23% of the cases of settler violence it recorded, Yesh Din said.”Israeli ex-generals condemn settler violence, help Palestinian farmers (opens in a new tab)
- The Jerusalem Post wrote earlier“with the IDF present in at least a quarter of cases”West Bank Palestinian farmers face attacks, olive theft from settlers as violence continues (opens in a new tab)
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article drops former brigadier-general Jonatan Yoni's statement that many settler attacks had the support of the Israeli military. Without it, Meinert appears to be the only officer making that charge.
How we know
- Al-Monitor reported“He added that many of the settler attacks had the support of the Israeli military.”Israeli ex-generals condemn settler violence, help Palestinian farmers (opens in a new tab)