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A prospective juror who is a priori prejudiced will, as a matter of course, be dismissed from serving on a jury pool. Many use this knowledge to be excused from jury service. Israel finds herself in the most peculiar position of always being found guilty before deliberations even begin. The World, itself Judge and Jury, stands and applauds: the harsher the treatment, the stronger the clapping.
Israel's Prime Minister decided to freeze all construction within Jewish settlements for ten months. This created an uproar, first because of the manner which it was done (decided in a cabinet meeting and implemented as a military decree), second because of damage it inflicts on those who entered into contracts and will now have to bear the consequences of a ten month freeze and third because it is a meaningless, petty attempt to appease foreign powers.
There are those who claim the decision, backed by some of the more respected members of the coalition government like Dr. Beny Begin, son of the late Menachem Begin, is an attempt at deception. They state that in order to divert attention from other, more pressing issues, noise is being created. Even if the supposition of psychological warfare is correct, there are unintended consequences.
Others -- mostly among our enemies -- raise the argument that the so-called freeze was designed to mislead the world. Interestingly, not only those on the left are up in arms. Those on the right are at least as livid. They, however, are those subjugated to this new decision.
To "break the freeze," a massive demonstration was scheduled at Paris Square in Jerusalem, in front of the Prime Minister's residence. Under the heading "In spite of all, we will continue to build and blossom!" Israelis were called to participate. Organized transport was arranged from dozens of cities around Israel at a much-reduced price.
Various organizations, from the Yesha (Judea and Samaria) Council, Bnei Akiva movement and others joined forces to explain that the Yesha Building Freeze amounts to:
Silent Expulsion of thousands of Jewish citizens from their homes
Shameful capitulation to American demands
Foundation stone for a Palestinian state
Collapse of ideology, trampling of human rights.
For
those not convinced, they quoted Benyamin Netanyahu's own words: "Freeze is the code word for
destruction." How is
it that a "right wing government" headed by "right winger" Netanyahu would
follow such a path? How is it that
only right wing governments, never left, are those that have brought about
peace (for instance under the late Menachem Begin with Egypt)? Why are right wing governments those
willing to sacrifice most, even for the prospects of an elusive peace? The
protests from right and left may have surprised Netanyahu in their
intensity. If indeed the move is
designed to camouflage another activity (for instance preparation for a strike
against Iran), the protests add to the artificial fire. However, the supposition may be
mistaken altogether and all indications are leading to conclude this is indeed
the case. Just
two days ago, the Prime Minister's Office published a list of cities that will
be included in the National Priority Map, thus eligible for tax incentives and
other monetary benefits and for substantial assistance. "Settlements" in Judea and Samaria with
120,000 residents were included to "compensate" for the freeze. In one
move, Netanyahu managed to inflame the situation, raising the already burning
flames many stories high. A new
national debate started. This
debate does not concern me, since it is devoid of any ideological substance and
centers on money allocations and self benefit. The
move, however, sparked a new reproach of the Jewish State. The European Union led by Sweden is
convening its organizations to see how to respond. A verbal reprimand was already issued. More steps are expected.
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