Posted on 03/14/2005 1:39:16 PM PST by Nachum
A group of Jews from America arrived in Israel today to show their support for the struggle of the Jews of Gaza and the northern Shomron against the plan to expel them from their homes.
15 members of the group, which is being led by New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind and includes two State Supreme Court Judges, were detained upon reaching passport control, according to Ruth Lieberman, one of the people waiting to greet the group in Ben Gurion International Airport.
“The police questioned them and told them that ‘the Gaza Strip is a closed military zone,’” Lieberman said. She said Assemblyman Hikind, phoned her after police took passports away from 15 members of the group and asked them to explain the purpose of their visit.
Helen Freeman, of Americans For a Safe Israel, wore an orange shirt supporting Gush Katif and told Channel One TV about the welcome she received from the Israeli Police: "They said, 'you have to be detained.' I said, 'that's a disgrace, why should I be detained?' And they said, 'well, because of your shirt'."
The group, undeterred, traveled directly to the Erez industrial zone, where they met with the CEO of the zone, Itzik Amitai. They continued onward to the town of Elei Sinai, on the northern Gaza coast, and watched the sun set on the beach in the fishing town of Dugit.
The visit is the first in what Hikind is calling a campaign of unity to strengthen and support the Israeli majority “who defeated Amram Mitzna’s ‘Gaza First’ platform…and is now being shunned as an extreme minority.” Hikind said, “It would be radical and extreme to allow them to feel isolated.”
The 40 professionals, dignitaries and Jewish educators taking part in the solidarity trip are the start of a full-fledged campaign by rabbis and Jewish organizations to send a steady stream of congregants and delegates to let the world know that not even Jews have the right to throw Jews out of their homes based on their religion, Hikind says. The assemblyman expects the activities to continue and to increase as the targeted date set for the tragic expulsion nears.
Asked by reporters whether this or future groups plan on opposing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s withdrawal plan by breaking the law, Hikind replied: “We are coming from a democracy. In the American tradition we admire the right to civil disobedience – this is not called sedition or violence – it is civil disobedience and that is what we are coming to be a part of.”
The group is eating dinner tonight in N’vei Dekalim with Pinchas Wallerstein of the Yesha Council and Gush Katif spokesman Eran Sternberg. The group will spend the night in the Gush Katif town before visiting several other towns and villages in Jewish Gaza tomorrow as well as meeting with resident and victims of Arab terror.
"Let everyone get a move on and take some hilltops! Whatever we take, will be ours- Ariel Sharon
A potentially explosive situation -- I'd like to see more info on what's going on before posting an opinion.
"Altalena" bump.
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I agree.
But one thing definitely comes to mind.
These American citizens, regardless of their political title, are intruding into an internal dispute of a sovereign nation. Ideally, these American Jews should return to the United States.
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