The sub-committee of the Foreign and Security Committee for Jewish Affairs, chaired by MK Zvi Sukkot, (Religious Zionism) met yesterday (Tuesday) to discuss the issue of "Anarchist violence - left-wing elements harming the settlers."
MKs Merav Michaeli and Gilad Kariv (Labor), Ariel Kellner and Nissim Vaturi (Likud), Limor Son Har Melech (Otzma Yehudit), and Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism) participated in the discussion, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the chief of the Judea and Samaria police department and the civil administration, local mayors, representatives of Zionist organizations Im Tirzu and Betsalmo, and others.
During the discussion, Avishai Moalem, commander of Yamar Judea and Samaria police unit revealed a 50% decrease in Jewish nationalist crime, and pointed out that half of anarchists' complaints against local Jews were fabricated.
In addition, a video was shown at the discussion documenting violent and verbal attacks on settlers by left-wing anarchists, prepared by the grassroots Zionist Im Tirzu movement.
MK Limor Sor Har Melech said in the debate: "There is a crazy phenomenon that takes place in the State of Israel - of aggression against IDF soldiers and settlers, denigration of the State of Israel to the outside world, and vandalism."
"The State of Israel is fighting for its life, from those organizations that come here under the guise of tourists. This phenomenon has consequences and dangerous aspects for the security of the State of Israel and its residents, and could not exist anywhere else in the world. The best defense is going on the offensive," she added.
Leftist MK Merav Michaeli disagreed. "There is a fundamental misunderstanding here. This is not happening within the State of Israel," she said referring to claims that Judea and Samaria are not legally part of Israel proper. After MK Har Melech replied that, "these are, in fact, the lands of our ancestors, Michaeli retorted: "There is no dispute that it belonged to our ancestors, but Judea and Samaria are not part of the State of Israel. This should be at the basis of this discussion."
"There are elements who try to paint a picture in the territories as if it were part of the State of Israel, I am talking about nationalist criminals, people you present as those trying to preserve the honor of the State," she continued.
In one of the debates that arose in the committee, Son Har-Melech attacked MK Kariv: "I wouldn't speak if I were you, a person who issues protocols from the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee."
The head of the Jordan Valley Council, David Elhayani, stated: "There is a group of people whose goal is to set the area on fire and create chaos. We know how to accommodate different opinions, but they are importing violence and violations of the law."
"We know from conversations with Arabs that they encourage them to come, they enter no-go areas, and worse: they falsely report (settlers) firing weapons at them. Their whole purpose is to demean settlers and the State of Israel."
"Those who are really causing violence in Judea and Samaria are left-wing anarchist activists," MK Sukkot said at the beginning of the discussion: "We are still in the midst of a difficult war. In order to win the war, you have to do many things. Fight on the military front, act on the political front, settle our lands, pray. In order to have military victory, everything that hinders it must be removed. It is impossible to win without fighting those who are doing everything in their power to hinder our just war."
"This is the reason why we gathered today, in the middle of the war, to discuss the issue of anarchists. So much unnecessary talk has been said in the past about "settler violence" but we have not dealt with those who are actually behind the severe violence in Judea and Samaria - leftist anarchist activists and extremists who attack IDF soldiers and our brave settlers."
