Saturday, October 29, 2011

Modern Sicarii?

From Wikipedia:

"Sicarii is a term applied, in the decades immediately preceding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, (probably) to an extremist splinter group of the Jewish Zealots, who attempted to expel the Romans and their partisans from Judea using concealed daggers (sicae, in Latin). the Sicarii used stealth tactics to obtain their objective....At popular assemblies, particularly during the pilgrimage to the Temple Mount, they stabbed their enemies (Romans or Roman sympathizers, Herodians, and wealthy Jews comfortable with Roma rule), lamenting ostentatiously after the deeds to blend into the crowed to escape detection."

A new unknown group titled "sicariikim" is throwing havoc in Jerusalem, scaring the secular, and Haredi communities alike. This small group of a few dozens Haredi youth, is defined today as the most radical and violent collection of thugs who operate in Jerusalem today. The Haredi community is expressing reservation about their activities, and the ultra-Orthodox newspapers and websites who usually refrain from criticizing any activities of the "Haredi community," are going out of their way to be clear how infuriating they are when it concern the Sicariikim. Stories about their deeds are transferred in a whisper, and accompanied by "it did not come from me."

The Sicariiki group began to take shape ten years ago. Synagogue "Ohel Sara" in Jerusalem is considered the stronghold of the group, and sometimes they are called "the chavurah of Ohel Sara." They were named "Sicariikim" by some of their rivals.

It is a most violent gang, Some of their rivals have already tasted their blows and were severely beaten. Shopkeepers in Meah-Shearim and other Haredi areas, were marked by them and are regularly disturbed. Lately they held several demonstrations in front of "Or Hachaim"-Light of life bookstore located in Meah Shearim, because they were opposed to the store "being full of shady people, and especially women prostitutes" as was printed in adds they published. The sicariikim also do not hesitate to attack Haredi Kenesset members. The last time was about two months ago. Then they attacked the Kenesset Finance Committee chairman and MK (Member Kenesset) Moshe Gafni, and MK Uri Maklev, during their visit to Meah Shearim. The two were forced to flee to a nearby synagogue, and were rescued with the assistance of the Police.

Like other members of the Haredi community, the Sicariikim are also espousing anti-zionism. But unlike them, the Sicariikim will not spare any means in their fights, violence reigns. Funding for their activities comes from contribution abroad, mainly from the US and England. In both countries there exists flourishing communities of anti-zionists, which the Sicarrikim visit to do their "Shcnor" (begging for money), mostly by distorting their real activities.

The Sicariikim are a sect that espouses violence to further their cause. like the Islamic Jihad, they have no ideology or any religion motive. Like the Mafia they are interested in control, they want to control the area. The Police prefer to stay away and not handle them, every time a police car enters Meah Shearim it is being attacked. Lately, though, the police began to take some action. Two months ago they arrested One of their members, Chaim Minzberg on suspicion he harassed some of the managers of the Israeli Antiquities authority. The sicariikim oppose any digging that might damage Jewish graves). The IAA refused to address the issue, and indicated that they rather let the police handle the case. It is alleged that the Sicariikim used to puncture the tires of members of the IAA, to break the locks in their houses and throw stink bombs near their homes.

The sicariikim legal Representative is Yair Nehorai, who represent them almost exclusively. Nehorai who is not Haredi nor Orthodox, claims that "within the Haredi community there is a large group with very extreme religious outlook, who essentially will not recognize Israel. This group will do its out most to avoid contact with any body who represent the state of Israel, whether it be Hospitals, Social workers and so on. For them any connection with the state is out of bounds. the group has great power which comes from the moral imperative in whose name it operates."

One of the leaders of the gang who was confronted by Journalists refused to be interviewed initially, saying "I do not speak with journalists." Later on he claimed " Who said that there exist a grope? There is no such group, it is all just fantasy and invention." Nehorai claims the opposite, "there is a group like that in existence, but it is very limited. There is a combination of real elements and myth in the way this group is dealt with."

So, what do you think? A new phenomenon, or just a newer more dangerous model of the Yad leachim gang?

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