'Pig-brigade' to guard settlements

[Aidoneus]

I thought I had seen everything....... :wow:
It seems somewhat fitting that this has the blessing of the Hebron pack.

'Pig-brigade' to guard settlements
Wednesday 29 October 2003

In a strange twist to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, plans are under way to use pigs to guard illegal Jewish settlements against resistance attacks.

Though Jewish customs prohibit raising pigs, the "swine-brigade" has received the approval of prominent rabbis.

The pigs – trained to detect explosives and attackers - would be expected to supplement armed guards and watchdogs.

The novel idea was mooted by an organisation called the Hebrew Battalion.

The organisation supplied watchdogs to illegal West Bank settlements and now wants to supply guard pigs as well.

The Israeli daily Haaretz reported prominent rabbis, including Rabbi Dov Lior of the settlement of Kiryat Arba, have sanctioned the organisation's proposal to use swine in a security role.

--snip--

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2E26EC69-7971-4F21-BF26-879308344305.htm

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Herschel, let me pre-emptively get your response out of the way:--oh, my, what a questionable source.. with that in mind, here's several more sources with the "Swine Brigade" story; I chose al-Jazeera because a) I routinely find them useful, b) I particularly like their "Pig Brigade" header.

Bomb-sniffing pigs to protect settlements
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35310

Israelis may put pigs on guard duty
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1073023,00.html

Rabbis back Israeli 'guard pigs'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3221079.stm

Pig-power to boost West Bank security
http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,1468749-6078-0,00.html

It's Kosher: Bomb-sniffing pigs will help protect settlements
http://web.israelinsider.com/bin/en.jsp?enPage=ArticlePage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enDispWho=Article%5El2908&enZone=Security&enVersion=0&

Rabbis Support Pigs for Israeli Security
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=51794

[Flying_Pig]

1. Like hell!

:evilgrin:

[mmm]

3. he he he

Like hell, indeed. Leave they should leave those pigs alone!

[Darranar]

2. LOL...

this is just hilarious.

They'll try anything, won't they? Now if they only can get Sharon to join the brigade...

[Aidoneus]

4. I'm confused on this..

I believe you mentioned once being educated early on by Orthodox (or perhaps "ultra-Zionist" was your phrase, I forget exactly).. how is this permissible by Jewish laws and customs?

[Darranar]

6. The prohibition is on eating...

I believe.

I'm no expert, but I think that raising them is in no way prohibited, unless they are for monetary profit - or something like that.

On edit: I think raising them is actually banned, but if it would save a life breaking tradition and laws is allowed. Just to clarify, that's a generic rule.

That's probably how they got around it.

Of course, the settlements violate "thou shalt not steal" and the settlers violate "thou shalt not covet" (thy neighbor's land) so it's not like breaking the law is new to them...

[IndianaGreen]

7. This is not kosher by any stretch

but I am happy to see that the settlers and their rabbis would consider pigs to be okay as long as they are used to protect the settlements. What's one more stake into the heart of rabbinical Judaism for this bunch? They are the same people that got a rabbi to sanction the murder of Rabin!

[Scurrilous]

5. Guard Pigs?

How are these guard pigs supposed to signal danger? Will they let out a distinctive grunt or squeal of alarm? How will these grunts and squeals be distinguishable from their regular grunts and squeals? Will these pigs be required to guard or patrol a perimeter or fence area? If so, how will the Israeli's stir these pigs from their normally lazy state and compel them to do guard duty? Personally, I think the only thing the pig is capable of guarding is it's own pig sty. I don't see these animals replacing the guard dog no matter how finely developed their sense of smell.

[Lithos]

8. dupe

Please continue here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=124&topic_id=25766