Anti-Zionist
Orthodox Jews brutally attacked near Regavim Kibbutz,
Holy
Land
April 17,
2005
Anti-Zionist Orthodox
Jews protesting the desecration of graves
by a highway construction project near
Haifa were attacked and brutally beaten
by private security guards hired by the
Ministry of Transportation.
The group, known for being outspokenly
critical of the State of Israel and its
very existence were peacefully demonstrating
at the time. This attack follows a long
history of violence against the Orthodox
Jewish community.
Consistent with fundamental Jewish beliefs,
some of these protesters often take part
in demonstrations, side by side with Palestinians,
against the State of Israel and its inhuman
policies toward the Palestinian people." The
apparent strategy of using organized violence
through private security personnel against
these peaceful protesters is only one of
many tactics used by the State of Israel to
intimidate and discourage further protests.
The police were nowhere to be found at
the time or even hours after the melee.
Several Rabbis and children were attacked
with electric stun gun devices and knives,
requiring some to be hospitalized.
Among the injured were Rabbi Leibl Deutsch
and Rabbi Yisroel Rothchild, both of Jerusalem
who were stabbed in the lower back and
leg respectively. The Jewish cemetery at
the heart of the incident dates back to
the Second Temple era, over 2000 years
ago.Some of the caves that comprise the
cemetery have been destroyed as a result
of the ongoing highway work and there are
heightened fears of further desecration
as the highway project continues unabated.
