(These notes are in response to someone who asked for my comments on an article he forwarded to me defending the ‘hill-top youth’)
There has been much recent controversy on this subject. It is difficult to be sure of the facts. What I do know is that there are Jews who feel very strongly that Eretz Yisroel has been given to the Jewish people by Hashem and therefore we should make every effort to settle the land as it is ours by divine right. That does not necessarily give us the moral right to drive others away who also live here. We also have the right legally to live in the part of the land defined as area C, where most of the so-called hill-top youth are located. This legal right was established by the Oslo accords long ago.
What I also know is that pioneering farmers who have established residence in these areas are continuously harassed by Arabs in the neighborhood who attempt to steal their sheep or goats who are grazing in these open areas to which they have legal rights. I know this because some of my grandsons have volunteered to protect these herds from human (inhuman?) predators. It is not an easy task, because they have to stay out in the open overnight to chase off the thieves. These youngsters are not armed but merely serve by their presence to protect the herds. Occasionally they get hurt, but they continue to volunteer anyway. The IDF does not have the manpower to do this job.
Sometimes the Arab harassment increases and involves physical damage to orchards or infrastructure. This is when attempts to scare the Arabs away may involve the use of weapons, sometimes aggressively, sometimes in self-defense. It is when things like this become frequent occurrences that some of the more aggressive Jews, particularly youngsters get frustrated because the authorities either cannot or will not protect them, and they resort to punitive raids on Arab property or villages. This is not legal or moral but nevertheless understandable. Unfortunately it generates a lot of negative publicity for Israel.
The facts suggest that there are far more terrorist attacks by Arabs on Jewish citizens than vice versa. However, Jewish vigilantes get far more publicity than the more frequent Arab terrorism that is a daily concern for the Jewish pioneers.
My general response to the article you quoted is favorable, but I doubt it will convince significant numbers in the West who still don’t even believe that Jews were murdered, raped and burnt alive on Oct 7.
stephenscohen.com 