Rally: Havat Gilad razing led to Itamar massacre

Rightists protest outside prison where soldier whose house was demolished is held, say IDF 'confused' as to who Israel's enemy is

Ahiya Raved|Published: 03.13.11 , 08:48

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of five family members in the Itamar settlement, right-wing activists held a demonstration Saturday night outside Prison Six near Atlit to show solidarity with IDF soldier Shimon Weisman, who was sentenced to 30 days in prison after vowing not to return to service following the razing of his home in Havat Gilad.

"The army is confused; instead of fighting the real enemies who want to annihilate us, it is targeting us – the settlers," Benny Gal of the Shomron Settlers' Committee told Ynet.

Some 200 people attended the protest, which was organized prior to the terror attack in Itamar. The protestors carried placards reading, "Bibi-Barak government of blood".

Gal, who helped organize the rally, added "when the IDF gets confused, the enemy gets the message. The same bullets that were directed at us in Havat Gilad turned into the knives that were placed on the throats of five Jews last night."

Knesset Member Arieh Eldad said during the rally that Weisman's arrest was part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to "legitimize a Palestinian state," adding that the government was working to de-legitimize the settlers.

"Netanyahu's plan for the establishment of an enemy state in the heart of the State of Israel requires turning the settlers into enemies," he said.

Another protestor, Rabbi Eliyahu Zini of the Or Yeshua Yeshiva in Haifa, addressed Netanyahu's comments in the aftermath of the murders in Itamar. "Netanyahu's job is not to whine or condemn. We need a prime minister who protects us from such massacres.

"Why don’t you (Netanyahu) set a high and painful 'price-tag' so the State of Israel can reestablish its deterrence?" the rabbi said.