Reading the riot act

The events of the last several days in Hevron surrounding the evacuation of the "House of Peace/Contention" (pick your name) when settlers--those directly associated with the settlement and their supporters--many of them religiously observant attacked not only government officials (the border police and the army) but also the local Palestinian population was a hilul hashem [a desecration of god's name]. The riot that ensued gives Israel a bad name among the world and religious Judaism a bad name among secular Israelis and other Jews.

Such behavior cannot be condoned, either by the government and especially by the religious leadership. The Prime Minister and the Israeli Defence establishment were explicit in his condemnation of the act. The Rabbinic leadership less so, if at all.

As much as it may be true that youth have a propensity to act out and disregard the advise of their elders (and Rabbis), I'm not sure that the violence is unavoidable as suggested by Rabbi Avinoam Horowitz of the Yeshiva High School of Kiryat Arba (YATKA).

Someone, an (irresponsible) adult, was assiting them. Focus has been placed upon Daniella Weiss, who Ephriam Sneh have called for her arrest and Dani Golan the head of the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip has demanded that she be removed from the area.

No matter the excuses offered for the underlying causes of the the rampage that ensued -- the residual effects of the evacuation of Gush Katif, general government policy, etc. -- it's clear to me that the social mores and the national religious religious educational frameworks are at the core. The lack of respect for the State of Israel and its democratic institutions seems to have been ingrained in the national religious/settler educational system. From parents, teachers and especially Rabbis, the messianism and xenophobia (aka anti-Arab and Palestinian prejudices) have become de rigueur. Respect for the other--Jew included--is no longer valued. Extremism has become the norm rather than the exception.

As much as I want to believe it, I can't share the words of an anonymous Rabbi:

Daniella Weiss and her extremist methods turned out to be a complete failure, ... The evacuation of Beit Hashalom was quicker than even one house in Gush Katif, which proves the futility of violence. Hopefully now people will be more willing to listen to a more moderate voice.

The voice of moderation will only be heard once "The Riot Act" is read and enforced by the those who claim leadership, and those who either encourage or publicly condone such extremist behavior are called on it and forced to answer, preferably in court, for their behavior.