Breeding grounds for hatred

[Scurrilous]

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/379379.html

<snip>

"Two weeks ago, together with my friend Brigadier General (res.) Yitzhak Elron, I visited 13 Israel Defense Forces checkpoints in Judea and Samaria, near the cities of Nablus, Tul Karm and Qalqilyah.

The visit was conducted at the initiative of B'Tselem, and I must point out that the two people from B'Tselem who accompanied us throughout the visit did not try to influence us in any way. We saw and we formed impressions. And the impressions were very harsh."

<snip>


"In summary: I am doubtful whether the checkpoints have in fact prevented the passage of a terrorist or of weapons. Every checkpoint can be bypassed. I have the impression that the only purpose of the checkpoints is to make things hard for the Palestinian population. I am convinced that the checkpoints constitute a breeding ground for hatred for Israel, and harm an innocent population in an inhumane manner."

"During the course of our tour of the checkpoints, we also saw the separation fence. In principle, I am in favor of a fence within the boundaries of the Green Line. The present route, which cuts Palestinian villages in half, is causing an additional injustice to the population and is intensifying the hatred towards us."

"The writer was a major general in the IDF and a mayor of Tel Aviv."

[Jim Sagle]

1. An inevitable, and rather mild, response to suicide bombing.

[usrbs]

2. And Lahat used to be in Likud

It's encouraging to see him get some sense. Maybe even rightwingers are starting to see the light - the land grab and oppressive treatment of the Palestinians isn't the way.