The big search
IDF Photo of soldiers awaiting a signal in a midnight sweep of Hamas terrorists
The search for the lost Israeli boys has provoked both enormous media coverage and also the raising of many other pertinent issues, such as the use of administrative detention as a form of abduction and the collective punishment of Palestinians. None of which is to deny the horror of the terrified Israeli boys nor the grief and fear of their families and friends. Thus does JfJfP condemn any use of abduction as a weapon of war.
Snippet from Churches for Middle East Peace bulletin
Palestinian political commentator Fadi Elsalameen suggests Netanyahu’s claims have merit. He wrote, “According to Palestinian intelligence sources I spoke with, Hamas is willing to pay millions of dollars for kidnapped Israelis for the sole purpose of exchanging them with prisoners.” He also notes that Netanyahu isn’t not placing his blame based on “solid evidence of who the kidnappers are, but based on intelligence agencies’ analysis and previous reports which clearly show Hamas has the most to gain from such kidnappings and in fact have tried several times before unsuccessfully to carry out such kidnappings.”
Famed Israeli negotiator Gershon Baskin is more skeptical. He wrote, “If it is Hamas, which I admit I have great doubts about, the operation was probably decided by the cell which undertook it, without the direct participation of either Hamas’s military wing Izzadin Kassam, or its political wing.”
Hamas has praised the abductions but called accusations that it was responsible, “stupid and baseless.”
Netanyahu is also placing blame on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his new Hamas-backed government for the teens’ kidnapping. He told the media, “Israel warned the international community about the dangers of endorsing the Fatah-Hamas unity pact… The dangers of that pact should now be abundantly clear to all.” One Palestinian official has told the Times of Israel that, “the kidnapping would mark a breach of the understandings between Fatah and Hamas, and would render their unity agreement null and void.”
In a speech in Saudi Arabia Wednesday, Abbas said, “Those who perpetrated this act want to destroy us [the Palestinians]… The three young men are human beings just like us and must be returned to their families.”
The kidnappings have put Abbas in a difficult position. He has pledged to maintain security co-operation with Israel to free the teens and said, “It’s in our interest that there is security co-ordination between us and Israel in order to protect ourselves, to protect our people… We do not want to go back to the anarchy or destruction that happened in the second intifada.”
One member of Hamas has called the co-operation a “free service to the occupation” and as the crackdown in the West Bank continues, it may be hard for Abbas to defend to the Palestinian public. In “predawn raids,” Israel has arrested more than 240 Palestinians, most with Hamas affiliations. 51 of those were Hamas members released in the 2011 deal that freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit after five years in captivity. According to the Washington Post, “Israeli military commanders describe it as one of the most aggressive operations against Hamas in the territory in the past decade.”
In a statement, Israeli human rights group B’Tselem says that while the Israeli military should, “exhaust all possible avenues of investigation in order to locate the abducted youths and bring them safely home, the authorities must adopt every possible measure at their disposal to uphold human rights” and called on the IDF to avoid “collective punishment.” The 680,000 residents in Hebron have faced several days of closures by the IDF, which has blocked all main entrances to the city and each Palestinian resident must pass through an inspection. As Israelis search homes for the settlers and make arrests, two children have been hurt, according to Palestinian news agency Maan.
As the search enters its 8th day, Israeli officials are concerned that there has been no sign of life from the teens and their kidnappers have not made any demands. Netanyahu has cautioned patience and said, “We are in the midst of a wide-ranging operation…. We are fighting terrorism and Hamas will continue to pay a heavy price for abducting Eyal, Gil-ad and Naftali, the three youths who were on their way home to their parents.”
Additional news and analysis of the kidnapping
Netanyahu wrong to blame Abbas for kidnapping [Akiva Eldar, Al-Monitor] “It’s to be hoped that the hostages return home safely and in good health. To prevent the next kidnapping and to stop the deterioration toward the next intifada, Israel must act responsibly and overcome the urges of incitement and revenge.”
US praises Abbas for comments, urges restraint [Ynetnews] As search for abducted teens continues, Abbas’ decrial of kidnapping inspires accolades from U.S., skepticism from Israeli officials and massive criticism from Hamas.
Israel considering imposing strict measures on prisoners affiliated with Hamas [Ynetnews] As part of the campaign to pressure Hamas, Israel is also considering limiting the Hamas detainees purchases of food at the prison cantina – purchases often made using funds transferred by the Palestinian Authority. The prisoners may also lose access to electrical appliances like fans, hot plates, televisions, and radios. In the past, Israel Prison Service also halted educational and academic programs for security detainees.
Israelis can try, but they can’t ignore the occupation [Gideon Levy, Haaretz] Anyone who thought the Palestinians would sit quietly and wait until Israel deigned to change its tune or government was deluded. Anyone who thought the settlers would continue to live in security in the territories suffered a grave disappointment: Thursday’s abduction was merely a wake-up call, a taste of what could lie ahead.
Israel Air force hits back at Gaza rocket fire [Ynetnews] The attack came as rocket fire from the Gaza Strip has escalated over recent days, with the majority of Israeli forces and efforts focused on searching the West Bank for the three teenage Israeli boys presumed to be kidnapped since last Thursday.
Because of the overwhelming coverage of the search for the three lost Israeli boys – which has provoked many different comments from Israeli and Palestinians sources, which we have posted – this is an index to what has been posted on the JfJfP website this week. JfJfP’s comment stands alone (both condemning the abduction but reminding us of harsh, violent, lawless circumstances in which Palestinians are forced to live) and is posted above.
Abbreviations/ Tags: OBK- Operation Brother’s Keeper; PUG – Palestinian Unity Government.
Attack Gaza: Tikun Olam: Expect IDF Operation Gaza Punching-Bag Imminently, Richard Silverstein, Violence is the only language Israel understands; Ma’an news: Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza, 6 injured, Israel cries ‘havoc’ and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies; Arutz Sheva: Anticipating Gaza Flare-Up, Iron Dome Deployed in Coastal Region, Israel cries ‘havoc’ and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies
Aim: break Hamas: JPost: Encountering Peace: Who did it?, Gershon Baskin on why Hamas are unlikely cause of boys’ disappearance, Hamas unlikely to be the abductors; Haaretz: Israeli campaign against Hamas is effort to impose new order in West Bank, Amos Harel on the wider aims of Operation Brother’s Keeper, Hamas unlikely to be the abductors; Violence is the only language Israel understands; Al Monitor: Israel collectively punishes Palestinians for kidnapping, Daoud Kuttab reports on the new restrictions which affect all Palestinians, Blame Hamas, blame the PA, punish all prisoners; Hamas: Expelling West Bank leadership would ‘open gates of hell’, Israel cries ‘havoc’ and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies; Times of Israel: In bid for Palestinian street, Hamas gambles all, Israel cries ‘havoc’ and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies
Administrative detention/abduction: Media silence about routine killing and abduction of Palestinian boys; MEMO:
Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike enters its 56th day, June 19th, And the longest hunger strike continues; IMEMC: Hunger Strike: Demonstration Against Prisoner Force-Feeding Bill, June 16th, And the longest hunger strike continues ; Israel extends administrative detentions despite hunger strike, And the longest hunger strike continues; Haaretz: East Jerusalem shuts down in solidarity with Palestinian hunger-strikers, And the longest hunger strike continues; Al Jazeera: In Pictures: Palestinians hungry for freedom, June 16th, And the longest hunger strike continues
Collective punishment: PHROC: PHROC Condemns Collective Punishment of Palestinians in Response to the Disappearance of Three Israeli Settlers, the Palestinian Human Rights Organisations Council names and denounces Israel’s collective punishment, Blame Hamas, blame the PA, punish all prisoners; ISM: Collective punishment in Palestine, records the first two deaths of Palestinian boys in OBK, Media Silence about routine killing and abduction of Palestinian boys;
Ma’an news: Israel using ‘collective punishment’ in search for teens, mass arrests, Blame Hamas, blame the PA, punish all prisoners; Al Monitor: Israel collectively punishes Palestinians for kidnapping, Daoud Kuttab reports on the new restrictions which affect all Palestinians, Blame Hamas, blame the PA, punish all prisoners; Tikun Olam: Israeli Media Deliberately Mangles Israeli Palestinian MK’s Interview on Kidnapping, Lieberman Calls for Death Sentence Against Her, Richard Silverstein on trying to make Hanan Zoabi responsible for boys’ disappearance, Hamas unlikely to be the abductors;
Mondoweiss: The Israeli crackdown on the West Bank as seen from the Qalandiya checkpoint, Raff Piccolo on the effects of the search on Palestinians, Hamas unlikely to be the abductors; Avraham Burg: Israelis kidnap an entire people and cannot hear their cry, Israelis kidnap and entire people and cannot hear their cry; Haaretz: Hamas: Expelling West Bank leadership would ‘open gates of hell’, Israel cries ‘havoc’ and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies;
B’Tselem: Hebron District and its 680,000 residents under third day of closure: increasing reports of property damage in arrest raids, the Israeli human rights’ group issues its first record of the damage that is being done, June 17th, Israeli security likely to know 3 Israeli boys are dead;
Photo from IDF: searching caves
Inciting anti-Palestinian hatred: Abuse of photos, Israel cries ‘havoc’ and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies ; Tikun Olam: Israeli Media Deliberately Mangles Israeli Palestinian MK’s Interview on Kidnapping, Lieberman Calls for Death Sentence Against Her, Richard Silverstein on trying to make Hanan Zoabi responsible for boys’ disappearance, Hamas unlikely to be the abductors; Electronic Intifada: Kill a Palestinian “every hour,” says new Israeli Facebook page, Israel cries ‘havoc’ and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies ; +972: ‘Parts of West Bank operation were planned ahead of time’, Yael Marom learns part of the operation was planned before the Israeli boys disappeared June 19th;
Media: Ma’an news, Journalists lament PA silence as Israel bans Gaza papers, Israel cries ‘havoc’ and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies; Ameena Salem on the media silence about abducted Palestinians, Media silence about routine killing and abduction of Palestinian boys; Tikun Olam: Source: Israeli Teenage Kidnap Victims Likely Dead, IDF Shoots Two Palestinian Youths Dead in West Bank Riots, Richard Silverstein is told the 3 Israeli boys are dead but the media are under a gagging order, June 21st, Israeli security likely to know 3 Israeli boys are dead: Palestinian-busting goes on regardless; Haaretz: Sayed Kashua knows from the airwaves that Haneen Zoabi kidnapped three Israeli teenagers: Media silence about routine killing and abduction of Palestinian boys
Occupation as incitement to violence against settlers: Mondoweiss: Mainstream piece lays settler teen abduction at feet of ‘illegal’ and ‘indefensible’ occupation, Philip Weiss on how one man changed his understanding, Hamas unlikely to be the abductors; +972: Analysis: How Israel taught Hamas that violence is effective, Michael Omer-Man, Violence is the only language Israel understands; +972: The kidnapping is indefensible – but Israel helped provoke it, Larry Derfner, Violence is the only language Israel understands;
Palestinians killed: Ma’an news: Israeli forces kill Palestinian during Ramallah arrest raid, Violence is the only language Israel understands; Electronic Intifada: Israel orders dismantling of camera that captured murder of Palestinian boys,June 20th,; ISM records two more deaths of Palestinian boys this week, Media silence about routine killing and abduction of Palestinian boys; Electronic Intifada, Ameena Salem on the media silence about abducted Palestinians Media silence about routine killing and abduction of Palestinian boys;
Prisoner swaps: Ynet: Timely bills would prevent future release of terrorists in prisoner swaps, Now blaming prisoner swaps; Times of Israel, No more prisoner swaps, Liberman vows after kidnapping, Now Blaming prisoner swaps
Punish prisoners: Al Monitor: Israel collectively punishes Palestinians for kidnapping, Daoud Kuttab reports on the new restrictions which affect all Palestinians, Blame Hamas, blame the PA, punish all prisoners; JPost: In response to kidnappings, Israel to stiffen conditions of Hamas prisoners, security cabinet aims to break-up Hamas/Fatah deal by punishing prisoners, Blame Hamas, blame the PA, punish all prisoners; Ma’an news: News series of punishments against Palestinian prisoners, Blame Hamas, blame the PA, punish all prisoners;
Splitting PUG : JPost: In response to kidnappings, Israel to stiffen conditions of Hamas prisoners, security cabinet aims to break-up Hamas/Fatah deal by punishing prisoners, Blame Hamas, blame the PA, punish all prisoners; The Tower:Kidnapping Crisis Rocks Palestinian Unity Gov’t, as Fatah Officials Lash Out at Hamas, Israel cries havoc and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies; Times of Israel, In bid for Palestinian street, Hamas gambles all, Israel cries ‘havoc’ and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies, Ma’an news, Journalists lament PA silence as Israel bans Gaza papers, Israel cries havoc and lets slip the dogs of hate and lies, JPost: In response to kidnappings, Israel to stiffen conditions of Hamas prisoners, security cabinet aims to break-up Hamas/Fatah deal by punishing prisoners, Blame Hamas, blame the PA, punish all prisoners;