So, What's It Like To Be On Arafat's Hit List
Interviews by Shai Gefen
Is there no end to the Palestinians’ chutzpa?! Two weeks ago the Palestinians
tried giving their Israeli “peace partners” a list of “wanted Jews.” Beis
Moshiach interviewed some of the people on this list: Noam Livnat of Alon Moreh,
Boruch Marzel of Tel Romeida, Chagai Segal of Ofra, Noam Federman of Beit
Schneerson in Chevron, Yehuda Etzion of the Chai V’Kayam movement, and Knesset
member Tzvi Hendel, who has received death threats and has round-the-clock Shin
Bet protection. Actually, it looks like all of Ahm Yisroel is on the hit list,
r’l. May Hashem protect us.
The
Sharon government’s policy of restraint has not exactly quieted things down in
the Middle East, despite Israel’s agreement to have American observers in the
territories, and despite government rule by Leftist politics, which includes a
total freeze on building in Yesha. Palestinian defiance continues to grow.
Their
audacity reached its pinnacle when they sought to present the Israeli security
forces with a “wanted list” along with a demand that Israel arrest these people.
If Israel did not comply, these men would be on their hit list, r’l.
Yehuda Etzion
Director
of “Chai V’Kayam”
You’re
also on the list?
Yes,
and I don’t have a lot to say about it. I don’t see it as a compliment or the
opposite. I can only say that when a country turns its enemies into partners
despite the latter’s daily attempts at murdering Israeli citizens, there’s no
reason for the terrorists not to designate some of those citizens as
“wanted.”
Furthermore, those that ask for our arrest are themselves wanted for murder and
attacks in Eretz Yisroel. I can only praise Israel for not accepting their list,
but just sitting with such despicable people in order to work out security
arrangements is itself contemptible.
How
did you get on the list?
It’s
no secret that they read our newspapers. They see and hear about my work on the
Temple Mount and they put me on the list. In addition, the fact that I used to
be the head of the Jewish underground is reason enough to want my head.
Are
you afraid for your life?
I have
no intentions of protecting myself. I am not afraid. In Ofra there are two
neighbors who were murdered even though they weren’t on this list. They want the
blood of every Jew. My neighbors recently went to work and were murdered on the
way. Even if, chalila, I am attacked, my blood is no redder than that of
any other Jew, even if I’m on their list.
You
are greatly involved with the Temple Mount. Even under Sharon’s government the
Temple Mount continues to be desecrated!
The
situation is far worse than it was under Barak. The Temple Mount is closed to
Jews now, though open to Arabs. The desecration continues and Arabs are
destroying every Jewish remnant. Not only does the Sharon government do nothing
to prevent this, but they even give their quiet consent.
Is
this the Sharon you were hoping for?
Sharon
has done some good things in his life, but we all know the other sides to his
personality. We all remember that he was the man who destroyed Yamit, so we
never saw him as the man who would save us. I suggest Sharon look and see where
his predecessor, Barak, is today.
Should
the Right throw him out?
I
don’t give advice to my friends on the Right. That’s not my job right now. But
I’m sure that the way Sharon is acting now he won’t be able to last long even if
he’s confident that he has a broad-based government and even if he’s riding high
in the recent polls. We’ve already had prime ministers with polls like these who
found themselves on the way out.
Chagai Segal
Editor
and news announcer on Arutz 7
You
are on the Palestinian hit list...
I’m
unimpressed by it. It’s Palestinian chutzpa. Their demand comes from the
concessionary attitude the Sharon government has towards the Palestinians, where
instead of fighting them they still sit down with them. Although Israel did not
accept the list, it certainly shows how far the Arabs’ defiance goes towards a
government that doesn’t fight them and prefers talking to them.
You
are one of the senior staffers at Arutz 7, and this isn’t the first time that
the Palestinians are attacking Arutz 7 for inciting against them.
I’m
glad they also understand that Arutz 7 is objective and is the media that’s been
exposing the holes in the Oslo Accords from day one, as well as other things
about the Oslo Accords. It’s no wonder that they see us as the enemy. Apparently
the Arabs are also aware of Arutz 7’s power.
You
recently had a broadcast in Arabic. Why?
So
that the Arabs hear us, too. I am not directly involved in that program, but we
have an Arabic broadcast which generates a lot of Arab responses.
Are
you afraid?
I’m
not afraid of them or impressed by anything. I sleep just as peacefully at
night, but I’m certainly furious about the feeble reaction from the Sharon
government. I expected a stronger response from them to a liquidation list
against its own citizens, but that’s typical of the Sharon government. It fits
with the other steps he has been taking or not taking, including the policy of
restraint. I am sure the Palestinian chutzpa will increase because of
Sharon’s policy of restraint and because he didn’t respond strongly to the
request for our arrests.
What
do you have to say about Sharon’s politics?
I
interviewed Sharon more than once on Arutz 7. He always expressed his anger
against any government that didn’t deal properly with terrorism, and he
continually attacked the policy of restraint. Only he knew how to get rid of
terrorism. But from the moment he became prime minister he has been acting
precisely like the other prime ministers. I think Sharon is using Peres as an
excuse. There’s definitely a sense of hopelessness in the face of a government
that grovels before its enemies, and conducts a policy of restraint and
concessions.
Do you
have anything else to add?
I’d
like to thank all those good people who called to express their concern for my
welfare, both from Eretz Yisroel and abroad.
Tzvi Hendel
Knesset member
You
met with Shin-Bet operatives who warned you of a possible attempt on your life,
in light of intelligence information which came their way. You even get constant
protection.
I
don’t want to get into that. We are in Eretz Yisroel and we will continue to
live in Eretz Yisroel forever.
Why is
your party, Ichud HaLeumi, still in the government?
Despite the policy of restraint, there is still no negotiation under fire even
though Peres is trying every trick in the book in order to achieve that. I would
definitely agree with Rabin’s description of Peres as “a tireless digger.”
At
what point must the Right topple Sharon?
I
think that the minute Sharon begins negotiations about giving away land, the
Right must leave. I can tell you that I am going through an intense personal
struggle. They are freezing the territories, and Peres and Beilin run the
government. The problem is that our leaving won’t topple Sharon; it will only
allow the Merkaz party of Dan Meridor to get in.
Peres’
policies are being carried out under Sharon’s government. What business do you
have being there at all?
First
of all, I don’t have any position in the Sharon government, so I can’t be
suspected of jockeying for position. It isn’t easy for me to be in Sharon’s
government now, but the big question is: What will be gained if we leave his
government now, when he is clearly not negotiating. I say clearly - the minute
Sharon goes to negotiations, we leave.
You
left Mafdal because it didn’t leave Netanyahu’s government after the Chevron
agreement, yet now you remain in Sharon’s government?
With
Netanyahu we had the opportunity to topple him, so leaving Mafdal made sense. If
we have the opportunity to topple Sharon’s government by leaving it, I wouldn’t
hesitate for a second. I think Peres wants us to run away rather than him, and I
prefer that Peres leave and we stay on to influence Sharon.
In the
next few weeks I hope we resolve our future in Sharon’s coalition. We are
definitely in a difficult situation. I told Sharon not to get excited by the
polls, because his greatest support comes from those on the Left and Arabs, due
to his policy of restraint. When it comes down to it, though, they won’t stand
by him and he will fall. Unfortunately even the media’s bear hug influences
Sharon.
Noam Federman
Resident
of Beit Schneerson in Chevron
Your
name appears on Arafat’s “wanted list.” Are you afraid?
I am
not afraid. If they want to, they can try... The last one who tried getting near
me was Achmed Tibi and everybody saw what happened to him. We rely on Hashem and
are afraid of no one. We will continue moving around freely.
But
why, among thousands of people living in Yesha, did they choose Noam Federman?
I am
not surprised. It’s nothing new that the Israeli government tries to create
parallels between us and murderers. The fact is that Israel has security
meetings with terrorists! It’s like the Mediterranean bazaars where if you get
something you have to give... This was Netanyahu’s policy, too. He said,
“They’ll give and they’ll get. If they won’t give, they won’t get.” I suspect
that when Shin Bet agents go to Rafik Tirawi or to Muhammad Dachlan and ask them
to arrest a certain terrorist, they say, “We want something in exchange” - me or
someone else.
Do you
feel your blood has now been made cheap?
It’s
nothing new. My blood was made cheap years ago. The Shin Bet consistently
refuses to allow the army to give me weapons, which is utterly irresponsible.
They know I am a target from way back and they don’t care.
Are
you going to move to the center of the country any time soon?
Chas
v’shalom.
We remain to protect Chevron and to guard Ahm Yisroel at the front. I
don’t reject the possibility that the worst could happen to me since Arafat’s
bodyguard and his Tanzim unit are gunning for me, but I put all my trust in
Hashem, our Father in Heaven, and I don’t intend to hide behind sandbags or
armor plate. I prefer being a servant of Hashem and walking about freely, rather
than hiding in some hole. We will continue with all our battles. We won’t give
up until the last minute.
How do
you view the present situation? Sharon has a policy of restraint while Peres
runs the show...
Unlike
others, I did not vote for Sharon, and certainly not for Barak. I preferred
staying home, since I realized that the actions of the one were in the category
of niveila, and the other, a treifa. I had no expectations from
this man. Unlike others, I am not disappointed. For twenty years this man has
tried to be conciliatory and apologize for the butchery of Arabs by Arabs in
Sabra and Shatila, and this is the man who destroyed Yamit. I don’t believe in
him since I believe he is capable of anything. So I say: don’t be disappointed.
There are no expectations to be had from anyone who does not go in the ways of
Torah and emuna. We should get this into our heads.
So
what’s the solution? The Intifada rules. What can be done?
Today,
when the army does nothing for our security, I would rather they got out of here
as they did from Lebanon and left us the tanks - as they did for Hezbollah in
Lebanon - and we would take care of the work.
It’s
simply absurd. The army is not waging a war, yet the soldiers are protected from
head to toe. Private citizens, on the other hand, who ought to be protected, are
exposed on the front lines and are the ones being killed day after day. So what
do we need the army for? So that they can arrange meetings to get lists of
wanted Jews?
The
army doesn’t protect Jews?
They
simply can’t. They are demoralized. Tzahal is a fearful army. We have no
expectations from the army, and as I said earlier: it would be better for us if
they left us the means to fight terrorism. What’s clear to us is that the state
of the army now in Yesha reminds us more and more of the army as it was in
Lebanon.
A week
before your name was publicized on their wanted list, there were explosions in
your car which miraculously didn’t harm anyone. Do you think it has to do with
the list?
The
truth is that at first I thought Arabs had done it to harm me, but after I saw
the Shin Bet’s reaction, I wonder who was behind it. The same day there was a
bomb in my wife’s car, I was called down by the Shin Bet who wanted to clarify
that it wasn’t them who had done it! That was weird, and red lights went off for
me regarding who was behind it after all.
Why?
Does the Shin Bet want to liquidate you?
I
don’t think they wanted to bump me off, but maybe they wanted to frighten me or
incriminate me. There were incidents like this in the past, like with the
Kahalani brothers in Kiryat Arba. The Shin Bet planted weapons in their car in
order to incriminate them. I won’t hesitate to go to court with them if they
continue these games, but I think even the Shin Bet are afraid that the story
doesn’t smell quite right.
What
should the Right do now?
As it
says in Megillas Esther, the Jewish people have to stand and gather
together for their very lives. The situation is extremely grave. We are putting
our faith in broken vessels, when the Jewish nation elects spineless leaders,
leaders who don’t believe in our eternal strength and in our future here. The
emuna must be upright and true so that when challenged, the emuna
proves itself.
Maybe
we need to demonstrate to get Sharon
to allow the army to win?
I
don’t believe in the effectiveness of activities like that now, and I don’t
believe in our present leaders. I think the slogan “Let the army win” is hollow.
This is an army behind fortresses, and we saw with the spies Moshe sent what the
significance of fortresses is (i.e., it means the city is weak). It certainly
doesn’t demonstrate excessive strength. The solution must be a radical change to
a life based on faith and timeless values.
How is
it in Chevron?
It was
much quieter this past week. Perhaps it follows the attack on the Arab family.
We still don’t know who did it, but it has gotten more peaceful.
What’s
it like to live in Beit Schneerson in the home of Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel?
It’s
incredible. We are living Jewish history in our own home. We are also in the
attic where the Rebbetzin would daven, and it definitely is a moving
experience. May she intercede on our behalf and on behalf of the entire Jewish
yishuv as she did in her lifetime, when she protected the yishuv.
Boruch Marzel
Resident
of Tel Romeida
What
does it feel like to be “wanted?”
It
feels very Jewish. Actually all Jews are wanted. The Gemara says it’s a
halacha that Eisav hates Yaakov.
You
have the privilege of being first on the list!
(Smiling) I have some friends who are very upset that they are not on the
list...
Why
did they pick on you? Didn’t Rafik Tirawi have anyone else to pick on?
I
don’t know why he picked me of all people, but I think that Tirawi himself has
to be liquidated - the sooner the better - because it says, “If someone comes to
kill you, get up and kill him.” I can tell you that to us, Tirawi is a wanted
man.
What
do you think of this situation in which the Israelis give their list of wanted
men, and the Arabs in turn present their list, as though the two lists are
parallel?
It’s
bizarre and ridiculous when in the morning they give orders to kill women and
children and at noon they come for lunch and talk to their Israeli “security”
partners under the direction of the Americans. Does that sound normal to you? It
won’t lead to peace.
And
all this is happening under Sharon’s government.
I
admit I worked against Barak, but I did not work on behalf of Sharon. Before the
elections I said that the day after Sharon would rise to power, we would have to
fight him. Now we see what direction things are going in. Sharon is following
Peres’ policies almost completely. It’s actually the Sharon we knew from Yamit.
Have
you protected yourself since you appeared on the list?
I am
waiting for the Arabs to need protective armor. I sit on my porch in Tel Romeida
exposed to the Arabs. I am not going to hide behind armor plate. Since the Arabs
in Idana were killed last week, it’s been quiet. I won’t say I support what they
did, but since that attack against the Palestinians in Idana, attacks against us
here have gone down 50%.
How do
you explain the fact that three Jewish leaders in Chevron are wanted by Arafat?
It’s
hard to explain, but apparently even the Arabs sense that Chevron is the
standard bearer in the struggle of the Jews for Eretz Yisroel.
Noam Livnat
Resident of Alon Moreh and brother to Education Minister, Limor Livnat
Mr.
Livnat also appears on the wanted list presented by Rafik Tirawi, who serves as
head of the elite Tanzim unit under Arafat. Livnat, who is a resident of Alon
Moreh in the Shomron, isn’t impressed by the wanted list that includes his name.
Is
there a connection between your name appearing on the list and your being
related to the minister of education?
I have
no interest in getting into my enemy’s mindset, and why they put this one or
that one on the list.
The
entire Jewish nation is on the list. They didn’t mean me personally. They intend
to kill us all. They publicized the first fifty people they want to wipe out,
ch’v, but their list is very long and includes millions of Jews. |