On 27.01, this newspaper published a news article titled: "An extreme left-wing activist tried to steal a weapon from an Israeli farmer in the Jordan Valley."
In the following lines, I ask that the readers get to know me - the "far-left activist" the subject of the news.
I tend to present myself through identities, some of which I chose, and some of which I did not.
I did not choose to be a French Jew.
I did not choose to be a bereaved father of two sons who committed suicide in the army.
Fortunately, I have five more children.
In my youth I chose to observe a mitzvah.
I chose to be a Zionist and immigrate to Israel out of the belief that the Jewish people, like every other people in the world, have the right to self-determination in their own country.
My late father was a teenager when he joined the French underground that fought against the Nazi occupation. My father supported the granting of independence to the Algerian people, because he believed that people should not be ruled by force of arms. These are the reasons why I oppose the occupation and the settlement project.
It didn't stop me from serving in the IDF and in the reserves. It also doesn't stop me from visiting my friends who live across the green line. Today I'm retired, and I volunteer wherever I can help people.
One of these places is the north of the Jordan Valley - where, together with a dedicated group of volunteers, I try as much as I can to help Palestinian shepherds who experience harassment and violence as a matter of routine.
Regularly, Moshe Sharvit - the "owner of the farm" who invaded the area there - tries to drive away herds of Palestinian shepherds with the help of an ATV, a horse, a motorcycle, the noise of loudspeakers or shouting.
About a year ago I got punched by him and fell.
I called the police, but since the incident was not filmed, and he also filed a complaint against me - the case was closed.
Last November Moshe arrived with another boy, both of them riding a horse.
They rushed towards me and knocked me down.
This time the event was recorded.
I filed a complaint again, but to this day they have not asked for the documentation and I have not been called to testify.
"The complaint is being treated".
Obviously in treatment.
A few weeks later, Moshe confronted the late Yochanan Darom, a retired director of the Nature Protection Company. At the end of the confrontation, Yochanan collapsed and died of cardiac arrest.
On top of that, there are dozens of complaints against Moshe for acts of violence.
At the last event, reviewed by Hanan Greenwood, I came with a friend to accompany a shepherd.
After some time Moshe arrived accompanied by a boy to drive the herd away.
I tried to block their way, but to no avail.
Moshe grabbed my walking stick with which I tried to block his path, and threw it far away.
After he ran me, I felt exhausted, I remembered the late Yohanan and sat down to rest. Moshe approached the companion who volunteered with me, knocked her down and grabbed her phone. That's when I saw for the first time that Moshe had a gun. I realized that I had to keep the gun away from him in light of his past violence, but he dropped it. me and ran away, saying: "Now we have a beautiful film".
After an investigation I was arrested for the Sabbath.
The police asked to extend the detention, but the judge ordered my release. These are the facts, this is me - Jewish, Zionist, observant, retired, volunteer, 70 years old, bereaved father, father, former IDF soldier with full reserve service behind him.
I am a "far-left activist".
I am the "danger".
Readers will be respectful and draw their own conclusions.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
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