Comments on: City of Patriarchs and Police

By: FAQ: Amalek, Goldberg, Netayahu and Iran

FAQ: Amalek, Goldberg, Netayahu and Iran — Sun, 24 May 2009 11:50:50 +0000

[...] the later historical use of Amalek as metaphor. My friend, historian Elliott Horowitz (occasional contributor to SoJo, and my companion on several West Bank journeys) is an expert on the development of the Amalek [...]

By: Elliott Horowitz

Elliott Horowitz — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:09:00 +0000

Dear Jose
I am afraid that you have confused me with Gershom Gorenberg. My post was merely a “guest” contribution, and I have never (knowlingly) been on TV.

By: Jose Alonso Leon

Jose Alonso Leon — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:09:11 +0000

Thank you for sharing this story with us, I enjoyed reading every word of it and look forward to reading your books. I am not a Jew but was attracted to your writings after hearing you speak on Fora.Tv and it was for me a eye opener to see that people lie you exist, thank goodness.

By: canoerib

canoerib — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:19:14 +0000

Interesting story. How bored the policeman must get dealing only with the settlers very predictable behavior. You must have been refreshing with your candid civility. What I have believed about Hebron for a long time is how necessary every player actually was until the unfortunate arrival of extremists from America. Have American religious extremist Jews have ruined Hebron’s legitimacy? Maybe so.

By: Yam Erez

Yam Erez — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:52:52 +0000

Good going, Elliott. I admire what you did. The videographer settler was clearly trying to intimidate you and anyone else who challenges him and what he stands for. As for the police, what you did was important: It’s all about challenging assumptions. You’re a hero.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:25:57 +0000

Elliott,
I was on the tour with you, and I am glad to find out that you were generally treated respectfully. I hope that you continue to challenge your countrymen with the hutzpah and passion that is necessary to make the difficult changes that, b’ezrat ha’shem, will be coming to your nation.

Thank you, again, for your action. I only wish we who were also on the street with you had documented the interaction better.

By: mrrobinson

mrrobinson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:05:57 +0000

Y. Ben-David, this isn’t the appropriate forum for me to air my grievances in, so I won’t. If you want more details about my deportation, feel free to email me at mrrobinson95@gmail.com

By: Y. Ben-David

Y. Ben-David — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:58:46 +0000

To MRROBINSON-
I am sorry but your story doesn’t make sense to me. First of all, I am sure you are aware that no country is morally obligated to allow non-citizens into its territory on an unconditional basis. Secondly, I am sure you are aware that Israel is in an official state of war with Syria and Lebanon. Thirdly, I am sure you are aware that those two countries host terrorist organizations that are actively involved in carrying out terrorist attacks on Israel. Fourthly I am sure they questioned you about other activities you are involved in and I suspect that these may have contributed to the decision to not allow you to enter the country.

I also suspect your story about your friend who was teaching English to “poor Palestinian kids in Shechem (Nablus)” also is missing important details that would contribute to a full understanding of the decision to deport him as well.

By: mrrobinson

mrrobinson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:03:18 +0000

“I was more surprised when some of the police ordered me to cross the street and return to my group.”

Really? It suprises me that you were suprised. Doesn’t the very fact that ex IDF soldiers have to start a group with the purpose of exposing institutionalized Israeli wrongdoings in the WestBank mean that you shouldn’t be suprised that the Israeli police force would act unjustly and give preferencial treatment to a settler.

I’m an American Jew who was recently deported from Israel because I’d studied Arabic in Syria and Lebanon. The security officer who ordered my deportation told me, “You lived in Syria and Lebanon, so you are not a Jew.” When I told her I’d done so because my major had a language requirement. the response was, “You should have studied Hebrew.” While I was in jail awaiting deportation another American was brought in. He was being deported because he was living in Nablus teaching English to poor Palestinian kids. There’s no better way to steer at risk Palestinian kids away from extremism then by exposing them to benevolant westerners and teachng them english, and your country deported him.

Wake up professor. Stop being suprised when your countries governmental institutions betray your ethical beliefs.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:08:21 +0000

Loved the post. Great story. Would love to hear more from this contributor, although everyone on this blog is interesting. Can you post your video?