Jewish settler blames Israeli government for synagogue attack
Speaking on the phone from Jerusalem David Ha'ivri, a prominent US-born Israeli settler told Middle East Eye that the Israeli government were partly to blame for the attack:
On the government’s response:
I think that the government of Israel is not being harsh enough on those who are actually responsible for the incitement and terrorism, as a result the general public is suffering.
I’d like to see the government of Israel executing terrorists. Those who are inciting and carrying out direct violence, should be arrested, prosecuted, and deported.
Israeli politicians like our Prime Minister are trying to be popular by blaming Abbas for every bit of violence. If Abbas is directly responsible I expect him to be arrested and brought to justice, if he is not then I’m not satisfied as a citizen by the rhetoric of blaming him.
Ha’ivri, a controversial figure in Israel and a fierce opponent of attempts to put a freeze on settlement building, was arrested for celebrating the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in a television interview. He criticized calls by some Israeli politicians for volunteer civilian armed groups to protect Jerusalem neighborhoods from attacks.
The government ministers are unable to provide law and order then they should resign. It’s not their job to dump the responsibility on the public. I don’t think we need to from civilians patrols. We have a police force and an army, civilians should be watching television and surfing the internet not patrolling the streets.
It makes me feel terrible to see how our civilian population can be so vulnerable; that evil people can walk into a house of worship and carry out such a violent and horrific act.
On dividing Jerusalem:
I’m very sad that the government of Israel feels that they have the right to apply different policies in different parts of the city. Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel. There should be one law in all the city. I’m not happy about separation. It causes confusion. The only time in history that Jews and Arabs have lived together in the city is under Israel’s authority. The key to Jews and Arabs living peacefully is Israel asserting its authorities and rooting out the terrorists who wish to hurt the civilian population.