Monday, September 07, 2009

Haaretz Story and the Full Story - UPDATED

I received this note:

I am furious about this. I spoke to the Rosh Moetza (Local Council Head) and he spoke to the Machat (Battalion Commander) who said that they did complain about some people saying these things but that they never mentioned Karnei Shomron and they have no idea where these people are from. It is terrible and I have asked Herzl (our Rosh Moetza) to please react. Don't know if he will. But this is such an unfair way to present things, as if that's how we are.


So, what is the "this"?

This, from Ha-Ha-Haaretz:

Head of the Paratroopers' Batallion, Colonel Oren Niv, has demanded that residents of a West Bank settlement stop leveling insults at soldiers manning checkpoints on the green line, after receiving complaints that soldiers were called "Nazis" by settlers in Karnei Shomron after subjecting them to security screening.

Settlers from Karnei Shomron have to pass through the Eliyahu checkpoint in order to cross the green line into Israeli territory. Recently, they have been required to present an identification card to soldiers and in some cases, to agree to a security check of their vehicles.

Police say the new regulations follow a number of incidents in which residents of settlements in the area were stopped smuggling illegal workers into Israel.

In recent months, soldiers manning the checkpoint have complained to their commanding officers that they have been subject to insults from settlers when they ask them to submit to a security screening. In several incidents, soldiers said settlers called them "Nazis" and said they were "practicing selection" on them.

Colonel Niv told a meeting of Karnei Shomron local leaders that the insults are "harmful outbursts I do not accept." Local officials have stated that a clear message has been sent to residents that unacceptable behavior towards IDF soldiers will not be allowed.


UPDATE

I asked the regular Haaretz reporter why Anshel Pffefer published the story and was told that he thought that it was more a 'military' story and not a 'civilian' story and that in any case, the minutes of the Council meeting bear out the story, even if a reaction from Karnei Shomron wasn't published.

Well, I looked it up, the minutes that is and here's the Hebrew:

אני מניח שלא מדובר בתושבי הישוב.
בכל זאת פונה לכולם להימנע משימוש במלים פוגעניות.


Which means "I presume that we are not talking about inhabitants of the community. Nevertheless, I turn to all not to use injurious words."

This, of course was left out of the reporter's story, by Anshel or his editor.

Haaretz.

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