Aaron: Pro-Israel bias deflated after a visit to Hebron

For many years Aaron had heard rumors of Jews mistreating Palestinians in the occupied territories. He had always dismissed these stories as nothing more than anti-Israel propaganda. After all, he had been raised with a strong Jewish identity in which Jews were basically moral and virtuous. When Aaron was elected to the board of his temple, which had a strong pro-Zionist plank, he felt his new position obligated him to investigate these rumors once and for all. He went to visit the Jewish settlements in Hebron and was unprepared for what he witnessed. What he found there was a violation of everything he believed Judaism stood for. For the past five years Aaron has been making an annual return trip. His goal is to impede the ethnic cleansing against local Palestinians that he believes is being conducted by the Jewish settlers.

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[yakovlevi]

These settler kids are behaving exactly like palestinian kids! It's uncanny!

Both communities have been in Hebron forever (most recently: Arabs since 1300s, Jews1500s till 1929). Both groups deserve to stay there, and when both groups recognize each other's rights, there will be peace.

[Blumbi]

and you dont start war over 1 simple soldier...i think the world and israel survives without him...

[Blumbi]

settlers have no legal rights under international law, an illegal occupied country is commiting a crime armesd response is allowed under international law,,so settlers..have and should have 0 rights,,move to the illegal, but unfurtunaly existing 67 boarders,, build upwards, recognizing izrael is a final step, end of violence a first hamas has far less blood on its hands and though muslims they are not taliban or islamic jihad like non terrorist (by int, community they are resistance force.

[huntertristan]

good on that guy... he is right about jewish people in general failing to take ownership and their unwillingness to act honestly about the crimes of the jewish state.

[fuzzbuzz239]

You may be right about that. That's certainly a crime.

However, there are three things you should keep in mind:

1) Palestinians don't have the luxury, protection or means of the army, hence they are more "desperate".

2) The fact that some Palestinians carry out terrorist attacks doesn't justify terrorism. BOTH sides should be condemned (more so for the stronger side)

3) As you said, they are "settlers", i.e. outside of the legal borders.

[Papso11]

I give alot of credit to a man who is willing to change his views and pre concieved notions when confronted with the evidence.

[freeride4eva]

I know the antagonism towards the plaestinians on the part of the settlers. But how about the palestinian on settler violence?? That involves sniper shootings, and other murders. Look at Shalhevet Pass, a baby that was shot in her father's arms in Hebron.