do the people of Yitzhar just want to look crazy?

The settlement of Yitzhar is well known for its strong anti-Arab sentiment, as well as a strong anti-government sentiment. One might also say the converse - the government and local Arabs have strong anti-Yitzhar sentiments.. The residents of Yitzhar have come into violent conflict with government and IDF representatives more than once, and the people of Yitzhar have always stated that Arabs are not welcome and they use only Jewish labor in the yishuv. Recently an incident hit the news where a COVID testing team from MDA was refused entry to Yitzhar because one of the team members was an Arab.

Now, this morning after the Brigade Commander of the Shomron formally decided that Arabs cannot be banned from Yitzhar and will be allowed entry as it is illegal to ban them, the yishuv of Yitzhar posted a sign on the road leading to Yitzhar saying that the road leads to Yitzhar and it is dangerous for Arabs to enter. The sign bears the warning in 3 languages - Hebrew, Arabic and English.

Police removed the sign.

The sign posted is similar to signs posted by the IDF outside of various Arab villages in the area, and outside of any entrance to Palestinian areas, saying entry to Israelis is forbidden and dangerous. The people of Yitzhar see this is hypocritical that it is ok to ban them and other Jews from 70% of Samaria but hey can't ban Arabs from one yishuv. And they aren't wrong. The Israeli leadership is fine with banning Israelis from places and activities in ways they wouldnt ban Arabs.

The sign seems unnecessary to me. It just gives them a racist appearance. No Arab is trying to get in to Yitzhar anyway. They all know to stay away from Yitzhar. 

Then again, the people of Yitzhar seem perfectly ok with such an appearance and perhaps they just wanted to bolster it a bit. Look crazy enough and nobody will want to mess with you. 

  

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