Hebron settlers furious over move to disarm them

http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=7181

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In an unprecedented move, General Moshe Kaplinsky orders confiscation of arms from 16 settlers.



"OC Central Command Moshe Kaplinsky has ordered the confiscation of weapons from 16 settlers in Samaria in the coming days. The decision was taken at the request of the security establishment. Ten of the settlers come from the South Hebron Hills area, the rest are from Hebron itself.

The settlers are furious at the decision. “We’re being put in danger here”, they claim. They say that among those whose arms will be confiscated are members of first response squads at their settlements.

In an attempt to annul the decision, settlers have sent a letter to Chief of Staff Yaalon, through lawyer Nafatali Wurzburger. “I ask that you do not allow my clients right to life and self-defense to be so materially harmed”, Wurzburger wrote to Yaalon."

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"The IDF response: “Last week a meeting was held to discuss the matter with OC Central Command Kaplinsky. Thirty-two names of settlers in the Hebron area were reviewed and in the end the decision was made to nullify 16 people’s weapons licenses and remove their armaments for security reasons and for fear that they will use them to harm Palestinians and policeman”. The IDF stressed that the decision was made at the recommendation of the General Security Service and the police."

http://images.maariv.co.il/channels/1/ART/705/261.html

Story is about a russian guy from Kiryat Arba (Hebron) caught making and hoarding weapons, along with grenades, ammo etc (which he stole from the IDF while on active service).

According to investigators, this is his "hobby", and he has "no connection to the Jewish Underground", nor did he intended to use the weapons for "nationalistic purposes".

As the immediate Israeli comments on that page quickly point out, nobody would believe this for a second in the case of an Arab.¹


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1. Comment 2: "If this happened to an Arab, would be be as kind? Or are there hobbies only for Jews? (Racism? Heck no!)" Comment 5: "If this was an Arab he would be accused of aiding terror without trial. Sadly this is Israeli democracy." Comment 6: "Destroy his house?"