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BARUCH MARZEL The face of Jewish radicalism Militant Hebron settler has poisoned Israeli politics with calls to forcibly segregate Jews and Palestinians

Ray Hanania Arab News BIO Baruch Marzel, who lives in a Jewish outpost built in the Name Baruch Marzel heart of the Palestinian city of Hebron, has confronted Nationality Israeli-American many Palestinians who have tried to witness Place of residence Hebron, West Bank Israeli restrictions on

non-Jews visiting the Organization Eretz Yisrael Ibrahimi Mosque. Shelanu, Jewish National Front

The mosque is famous for being Occupation Former spokesman the burial ground of the Prophet of Meir Kahane’s Kach party Abraham. It was also the site of the massacre in February 1994 of Medium Interviews, videos 29 Muslim worshippers by and articles Chicago-born Israeli settler Baruch Goldstein, a close colleague Ben-Zion Gopstein, Michael of Marzel. Ben-Ari and Itamar Ben-Gvir, In 1995, when I was president Marzel founded and became of the Palestinian American a spokesman for the segrega- Congress, Marzel’s colleagues tionist Lehava movement. threatened to beat me with clubs The Jewish far-right as I walked up to the Ibrahimi campaigning organization objects Mosque to view a memorial set up to almost every kind of personal for Goldstein’s victims. relationship between Jews and It was only because I am Christian non-Jews. and was holding a US passport that Its activities are not limited Israeli soldiers stood between me to protesting and picketing and Marzel’s settler friends. weddings between Jews and Marzel was one of the early Arabs. In 2014, Lehava members leaders of hate activist Meir carried out an arson attack on an Kahane’s Jewish Defense League Arab-Jewish bilingual school. (JDL). After Kahane was killed in Marzel remains active in November 1990, Marzel played politics. He is a member of Otzma a larger role in the organization, Yehudit, which calls for Arabs to which has changed names several leave Israel. times and was represented in The willingness of Prime Israel’s Knesset (Parliament) as Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the Kach political party. to work with such parties means Marzel has run for political office their influence cannot be under- in the Knesset and is a member of estimated. the Otzma Yehudit political party, Netanyahu even received which was reorganized from the criticism from AIPAC, the largest outlawed Kach. pro-Israel lobby in the US, over He has openly advocated the the election alliance he agreed to ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. in 1982, and to have shot dead where he has led attacks against the Jewish festival of Purim. “We with Otzma Yehudit. “There is no way we’ll have quiet several unarmed Syrian soldiers its Palestinian residents. He has decided to make a big party on the Marzel is doing his best to make or peace inside Israel as long as we he had taken prisoner. been jailed many times for his acts day he was murdered by Arabs,” sure Kahanism passes on to the have here millions of supporters He said he did this because It’s a religious war. of violence and intimidation. Marzel told the BBC. next generation. “Thank God, of terror, people that believe in he was wounded by a captured They believe they Confrontations between the “Without supporting what (he) out of (my) nine kids, seven had their religion that all of the Land Syrian commando who let off a have to destroy small Israeli population in Hebron did … Baruch Goldstein was one trouble with the police for good of Israel … is theirs, and that we’re concealed grenade and thought and its Palestinian residents are a of the purest people in the world ... causes,” he said. occupiers, and the Jews have no he might die, so he wished to us ... to kill us. daily occurrence. He was a saint,” Marzel said. “After “I educate them to be fighters, right to a state or can even exist exact revenge. Marzel took the But its darkest day was in 1994, what he did, terrorism stopped in and I’m proud that they fight ... here,” he said. same spirit of confrontation into Marzel was renowned for his when Goldstein opened fire Hebron for four years ... one Jew They had a big fight with Arabs.” “The only way to have peace is his political activism. open hostility, harassing leftist on Muslim worshippers in the wasn’t hurt.” Whether it is with his own to get them out of Israel.” “It’s a religious war. And they and Palestinian Knesset members. Ibrahimi Mosque during Ramadan. Marzel still takes part in children, other Jewish settlers Born in Boston, Marzel’s family believe they have to destroy us … After his mentor’s death, Marzel As the dead and wounded lay on aggressive activities against Pales- in Hebron or far-right activists moved to Israel when he was an to kill us ... And we believe that ... was elected head of Kach’s secre- the floor, survivors tackled him tinian residents of Hebron, while across Israel, Marzel will infant. He joined the JDL at the they can’t stay here,” he said. tariat and ran for the Knesset. and beat him to death. hosting Israeli troops stationed continue to radicalize Israeli age of 13. In 1984, Kahane won a seat He emerged from Kahane’s Marzel celebrated Goldstein there at his house for lunch. politics, and do all he can to Marzel claims to have joined in the Knesset and appointed shadow to become a figurehead after his death, and in 2000 held But his activism is not prevent coexistence between the Israeli invasion of Lebanon Marzel as his parliamentary aide. for Jewish radicalism in Hebron, a party at his graveside during confined to Hebron. Alongside Jews and Arabs.

The rotten apple did not fall far from the wretched tree

YOSSI MEKELBERG

here is quite a competition to man. His admiration of Kahane and his vile representatives of his jingoistic, bigoted and take a tougher approach against the be considered the true heir system of beliefs can be witnessed even today. politics have long been voted into the Knesset. Palestinians who live there. to Meir Kahane, the man Marzel often quotes him on his Twitter feed to And the support of his current political party His blind hatred of Palestinians has widely believed to have attack almost everyone who disagrees with him. Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) is much coveted sunk to the low point of defending Baruch brought the most repellent For Marzel, even Prime Minister Benjamin by Netanyahu as he tries to form a coalition. Goldstein, who murdered 29 innocent Muslim examples of racist and hate Netanyahu and former defense minister A member of Otzma Yehudit is most likely worshippers in the Ibrahimi Mosque in 1994. speech into Israeli politics. Avigdor Lieberman are too soft on the to be appointed education minister, which He refers to Goldstein as a “tzadik” TWhen Kahane appeared on the political Palestinians, whom he views almost without will allow that person to poison the minds of (righteous person) and a victim. How could stage, his venomous language against Arabs, exception as terrorists or servants of terrorism. Israeli youth. anyone condone the shooting of innocent peace activists, the media and others was on His vision of Israel’s future is one of a state From the age of 14, Marzel has been people worshipping the same God that Marzel the very margins of Israeli discourse. run according to Jewish law, the Halacha, arrested on countless occasions, and has allegedly believes in? Sadly, this is no longer the case, and which aspires to build the Third Temple on been convicted of assaults and threatening His prejudice manifests itself in his approach incitement against those groups has been the Temple Mount and replace the mosques behavior against Palestinians. to relations between Arabs and Jews. He is a creeping into mainstream politics, advocated standing there today, while disregarding One of his favorite acts of incitement key figure in the organization Lehava, which and encouraged by his disciples. No one takes the insult to the Muslim world and the against the Palestinians and their struggle harasses Arab-Jewish couples, pressuring this further than Baruch Marzel. provocation that even contemplating such an for self-determination is to burn their flag them to end their relationship. Marzel was born in the US, but was taken action represents. in public. Marzel was not the first to introduce hate to Israel by his family as a baby and grew Marzel’s choice of residence is testimony Spreading hate against Palestinians might speech and extreme religious nationalism into up in Jerusalem. to his provocative tendencies. He is a settler have gained Marzel infamy, but he is equally Israel’s political discourse, but he has taken it From his youth, he was attracted to extreme in the occupied West Bank, and lives in Yossi Mekelberg is professor venomous in his attacks against Jews who are to a new and contemptible level, paving the of international relations at right-wing movements. He joined Kahane’s one of the most extreme anti-Palestinian Regent’s University London, working to bring about peace and coexistence. way for those who follow to become legitimate Jewish Defense League at 13 and, later, his party communities of Tel Rumeida in the city where he is head of the He used to call the peacemakers of the Oslo forces in the country. Kach, a bluntly racist organization with strong of Hebron. He and his fellow settlers are International Relations and process “the criminals of Oslo,” and even This makes him one of the most severe Social Sciences Program. He fascist ideological elements that was barred constantly instigating friction and clashes with is also an associate fellow called for the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin threats to Israel’s society and democracy, from running for Israel’s Knesset (Parliament). the local Palestinian population. of the MENA Program at and Shimon Peres. and to the country’s relations with the Chatham House. He is a regular At a young age, Marzel was Kahane’s Marzel is seen as representing the very contributor to the international For good measure, Marzel also incites Israeli Palestinians, both within Israel and in the spokesperson and regarded as his right-hand extreme right in Israel, but frighteningly written and electronic media. soldiers in Hebron to ignore their commanders occupied territories.