Mishmeret Yesha
 | |
| Founded | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Israel Danziger |
| Area served | Israel and the West Bank |
| Volunteers | 4,000 |
| Website | Mishmeret Yesha |
Mishmeret Yesha is an Israeli organization that trains Israeli settlers in counterterrorism techniques and the use of weapons to guard Israeli outposts and settlements against Palestinian attack.[1] It was founded in 1988 and its name means "Guardians of Yesha."[2] Israel Danziger is head of operations for the organization[3] and one of its three founders. Danziger is a native of Brooklyn, New York.[4]
Operations
Mishmeret Yesha's main operations are in security training, medical aid, legal assistance, education, the building of connector roads, and land development.[2]
By 2008 Mishmeret Yesha had about 4,000 volunteers[5] and had helped train more than 100 "rapid response teams" of settlers in the Judea and Samaria Area. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) then provides M16 rifles and ammunition to authorized teams.[3] The IDF also allows Mishmeret Yesha to use its bases for training. The training takes place over a year and involves marksmanship and fitness components. Trainees must also miss 20 workdays during their year of training.[2]
Mishmeret Yesha also does agricultural work around Judea and Samaria. Their largest project is in the area around Shilo, where they have cleared and planted thousands of dunams of land near Shvut Rachel and Adei Ad. It also owns sheep.[4]
The organization also runs a factory which designs and makes bullet-proof vests.[6]
Locations
Residents of numerous settlements and outposts have received training from Mishmeret Yesha, including Sde Boaz, Shavei Shomron, Kfar Tapuah, Bat Ayin, Pnei Kedem, and Esh Kodesh.[4]
Mishmeret Yesha insists that settlements that receive its training exclude Arabs. Israel Danziger told the Jerusalem Post that "we don't want to have anything to do with any organization that employs Arabs. There is no sense in training a rapid response team in a settlement or institution where you have a bunch of Arabs walking around gathering information."[3]
Israel Danziger
Mishmeret Yesha founder Danziger took aliyah from Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 1972 at the age of 19. His was the only white family on their street and Danziger recalled that "As early as I can remember I felt strange, out of place, in Williamsburg. Everything about those people was weird, the way they reacted to things. I did not know why I had that feeling."[4]
In 1969 there were anti-Jewish riots in Williamsburg and Danziger attended a speech by Meir Kahane which gave him the idea that Jews could use force to defend themselves and their families. Danziger attributes his eventual foundation of Mishmeret Yesha to this experience.[4]
Danziger is a voting member of the Likud Central Committee.[2]
References
- ↑ Joshua Mitnick (November 24, 2005). "Settlers see next battlefield in West Bank". Washington Times. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Robert Sklar (December 18, 2008). "On Guard - Israeli security activist spotlights the struggle of the settler movement". Detroit Jewish News. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Matthew Wagner (March 17, 2008). "Leading rabbi calls for yeshivas to set up rapid response teams. Security plan includes restriction on employment of Arabs". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Matthew Wagner (April 4, 2008). "Jews with guns". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ↑ "ZOA Forum: Guarding Yesha". Detroit Jewish News. November 27, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ↑ "He Numbers; Mishmeret Yesha has". Detroit Jewish News. December 18, 2008. p. A28. Retrieved August 23, 2012.