tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16816866.post8090659759349261636..comments2024-02-29T02:10:56.878-08:00Comments on J O S H U A P U N D I T: Olmert Evicts Jews From HebronFreedom Fighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649470110087808596noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16816866.post-13348485356326816762007-08-09T09:32:00.000-07:002007-08-09T09:32:00.000-07:00Hi Nazar,I'll answer your questions in reverse ord...Hi Nazar,<BR/>I'll answer your questions in reverse order...sort of<BR/><BR/>Jews have lived in Hebron for centuries, and had a more or less continuous presence barring certain periods of expulsion by various conquerors. The latest instance of a continuous Jewish community there dates from the Ottoman conquest in 1517, and lasted until the Arab massacres in 1929 and 1931, which were followed by the ethnic cleansing of all Jews from what you would call the West Bank in 1948.<BR/><BR/>Hebron is the site of the second most sacred shrine in Judaism after the Temple Mount, the Me'arat HaMachpela, Cave of the Patriarchs.<BR/><BR/>This is the burial place of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah.The Bible relates how Abraham bought the cave as a burial plot for his family for 400 silver shekels.<BR/><BR/>The land where the Shalhevet neighborhood stands was purchased from the Ottomans in 1807.<BR/><BR/>Is it important? Aside from the religious and historical meaning, it's important because this is Jewish land in Israel. And if Jews don't have the right to live peaceably on land they own in Hebron, they don't have the right to live peaceably in Tel Aviv..or anywhere else, really.<BR/><BR/>The city of Compton,California was originally a white suburb <BR/>(baseball great Duke Snider's home town)that later became predominantly black and is now becoming predominantly Hispanic. <BR/><BR/><B>Would anyone have the nerve to say that any of these groups who legally acquired property there and wanted to live in it should be expelled `for peace'? </B><BR/><BR/>As for who supports Olmert..it breaks down to the hardline Israeli Left, the Arab parties and a few venal politicians unwilling to go to elections because they would be voted out of power. Oh yes - and the Bush Administration, because the Olmert government is extremely bendable.<BR/><BR/>You have to also remember that Olmert is currently under indictment for bribery, and is willing to do whatever he needs to to stay in office and avoid a criminal trial for as long as possible.<BR/><BR/>In terms of popular support, Olmert has been in single digits for a long time.<BR/><BR/>And yes, it astounds me that he hasn't been thrown out of office by now.Freedom Fighterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13649470110087808596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16816866.post-440675135997258842007-08-08T17:43:00.000-07:002007-08-08T17:43:00.000-07:00Forgive my ignorance, but I have a few questions. ...Forgive my ignorance, but I have a few questions. First of all, just how important is Hebron? Is it the site of an important Jewish religous facility? Have Jews maintained a presence there for a long time? <BR/><BR/>And who exactly supports Olmert right now, if anybody?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com