On the same day I heard Sammie Nache’s story as a Palestinian in Hebron, we met with a Jewish settler in Hebron, Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum, who is also the Director of Tourism for the Hebron Fund. Simcha has a much different story and perspective of the Jewish community’s history in Hebron and their relationship with the neighboring Palestinians. The following is his view of Jewish history in Hebron.
In 1648, the Jews had to move out of Hebron because of intense discrimination. In fact, Jews in this area have always faced discrimination from the local population (e.g. lack of adequate hospital services). By the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries Jews were once again present in Hebron. Then, in 1929, a Jewish boy was murdered by the Palestinians. Following his murder 66 Jews were killed and 67 others were injured, and the British kicked all remaining Jews out of Hebron. However, one person remained, Franco, and he vowed to bring Jews back to Hebron. In the wars of 1948 and 1967 against the Arabs Jewish synagogues in Hebron were destroyed, and the land was subsequently used to hold animals. As a result of the post-synagogue land becoming animal pens, defecation occurred there and in both the Muslim and Jewish faiths this is viewed as ultimate disrespect. In the three decades following the 1967 war Jewish settlers came back into Hebron, supported by the Israeli army. In 2001, during the 2nd Intifada, a Jewish baby was murdered by a Palestinian sniper. The sniper later admitted he was aiming for and wished to kill the baby. This was the worst of several violent altercations between the settlers and Palestinians. This incident resulted in an enormous escalation in violence between the settlers and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and the Palestinians.
Simcha’s future vision of Hebron is one where tens of thousands of Jews live. He believes that peace is not possible with the current Palestinian leaders who promote, along with local Muslim religious leaders, pushing all Jews into the Mediterranean Sea. Further, he states that in the PLO charter there is no stated right for Israel to exist. Therefore, peace has to come from below, from the people not from the leaders, and from a desire for something different than the status quo. He also said there are things that Jews and Muslims have in common, including modesty and a desire for peace.
In 1648, the Jews had to move out of Hebron because of intense discrimination. In fact, Jews in this area have always faced discrimination from the local population (e.g. lack of adequate hospital services). By the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries Jews were once again present in Hebron. Then, in 1929, a Jewish boy was murdered by the Palestinians. Following his murder 66 Jews were killed and 67 others were injured, and the British kicked all remaining Jews out of Hebron. However, one person remained, Franco, and he vowed to bring Jews back to Hebron. In the wars of 1948 and 1967 against the Arabs Jewish synagogues in Hebron were destroyed, and the land was subsequently used to hold animals. As a result of the post-synagogue land becoming animal pens, defecation occurred there and in both the Muslim and Jewish faiths this is viewed as ultimate disrespect. In the three decades following the 1967 war Jewish settlers came back into Hebron, supported by the Israeli army. In 2001, during the 2nd Intifada, a Jewish baby was murdered by a Palestinian sniper. The sniper later admitted he was aiming for and wished to kill the baby. This was the worst of several violent altercations between the settlers and Palestinians. This incident resulted in an enormous escalation in violence between the settlers and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and the Palestinians.
Simcha’s future vision of Hebron is one where tens of thousands of Jews live. He believes that peace is not possible with the current Palestinian leaders who promote, along with local Muslim religious leaders, pushing all Jews into the Mediterranean Sea. Further, he states that in the PLO charter there is no stated right for Israel to exist. Therefore, peace has to come from below, from the people not from the leaders, and from a desire for something different than the status quo. He also said there are things that Jews and Muslims have in common, including modesty and a desire for peace.
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