So just whose land is it or who is your enemy? Part 2

The Israeli Olmert government is set to begin the eviction of two Jewish families from a Jewish owned building in Hebron tomorrow. Three thousand security personnel have been deployed to carry out the eviction and already there are cracks in the government’s eviction strategy. Ha’aretz reports:

Between 20 and 30 Israel Defense Forces infantry troops are refusing to participate in Tuesday's planned evacuation of settlers from the Hebron wholesale market. The soldiers, who are mostly religious troops conscripted in accordance with the Hesder program, informed their commanders that they would not agree to take over positions from Border Police troops in the West Bank, in order to allow the Border Policemen to remove the Hebron settlers. The soldiers announced their decision after consulting with their rabbis, who instructed them not play any role in the evacuation, including an indirect one.

The soldiers are currently undergoing advanced training, and are employing various methods to avoid replacing the Border Police troops. Some have informed their commanders that they will refuse direct orders, while others have simply managed to receive sick leave. In general, the commanders have been sympathetic to the soldiers, and promised to try to find a way to alter the mission.

Of course, Yariv Oppenheimer, head of Peace Now (and a man who never met a religious Jew he liked) is frothing at the mouth demanding the IDF soldiers be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

I am not terribly sympathetic to the plight of the government and before anyone goes all rule of law on me; remember it’s a question of deciding whose law one is going to follow. Rule of law in this case has layers of nuances which are not readily apparent unless you understand get a little background on this story. Start with this post I did when the first evictions were first carried out and google the rest.

The government failed to live up to the original agreement concerning the market place which was reached approximately a year and a half ago with the Hebron community, and furthermore, the breakdown in morale is the direct responsibility of the Kadima government for employing Israeli Defense Forces as Sheriff’s baliffs.

But here is another thought to ponder. If it takes 3,000 security personnel to evict two Jewish families and their supporters; will Israel ever have enough security personnel to carry out widescale evictions in Samaria or Judea where the numbers of Jews reach the hundreds of thousands?

Update:

David Wilder, an English speaking spokesman from the Hebron Community makes the Jewish Community’s case in Hebron. I’d normally just post a video directly on the blog, but I am making an effort to remind respectful of ownership rights, so I suggest everyone go here to watch the video report.