IDF Colonel Eran Shani traveled to the Shomron where he met with representatives of the so-called hilltop youths. Sending a colonel from the IDF Human Resources Branch signals a change in military policy, as in the past, the hilltop youths have been viewed as persona non grata by the IDF.
Shani tried to change the tide and speak to the representatives about entering the IDF rather than remain outside the system, as many have done in the past.
In fact, the official IDF visit marked the end of a five-year rehabilitation program that was initiated by the Shomron Regional Council in the hope of getting these youths back on the mainstream track. The plan was that of Yossi Dagan, who today serves as head of the regional council.
Many of these youths have left their families and leave together in outposts, sustaining themselves by farming and performing chores, many having dropped out of mainstream society. Dagan’s plan was to bring them back into the mainstream fold, including military service and recognition of the state and its authority. In many cases, youths were connected to families to assist in guiding them. Former IDF Chief Rabbi Avichai Ronsky, Rosh Yeshivat Itamar, has been active in working with the program and maintaining contact with Colonel Shani.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
These people are the zionists’ worst nightmare – they don’t recognize the medina similarly to the Haredim, however unlike the Haredi population they don’t have any official institutions or infrastructure so there is no possibility of using bargaining chips like funding yeshivas and the like to try and win them over. Since they fear Hashem over any government authority they only thing that can stop them is imprisonment or death – that’s why the government loves to kidnap them (even minors) and torture them under “administrative detention”. Meanwhile the media tries to convince everyone they are terrorists who kill innocents in order to prove their fantasies that religious people are fanatics and that there is no difference between Jews and goyim (i.e. the arabs have their terrorists and we have ours). In reality these people are probably some of Hashem’s most prized and beloved of His children.
#1 well said with a few modifications.
“however unlike the Haredi population they don’t have any official institutions or infrastructure” which is why the judges and shin bet have an easy time kidnapping and torturing them to confess crimes Arabs do.
“that’s why the government loves to kidnap them (even minors) and torture them under “administrative detention” because there’s no one that sticks up for them.
“Meanwhile the media tries to convince everyone they are terrorists” headed by Netanyahu, exDM Yaalon and other ministers and officials.
“In reality these people are probably some of Hashem’s most prized and beloved of His children” because of their emunah pshuta.
#1 summoned up it right, the Zionists cannot tolerate refusniks, these are boys and yet the Zionists go crazy trying to find “use” for them. there is no end to the Zionists plans.
Ditto to all three previous comments.