Yossi Schwartz, ISL the Section of the RCIT in Israel /Occupied Palestine, 06.07.2023
The Zionist so-called Operation “Home and Garden” (Bayit veGan) began at 1:20 AM Monday, with an IDF air attack on Jenin. The decision to launch the attack on the Palestinian people in order to drive them out of the country, was received some two weeks ago, and the Netanyahu government waited for the end of the Muslim Holiday of the sacrifice. According to Kan11 News, the PA in Ramallah was informed ahead of the attack.
In a message to Zionist troops, the Zionist chief of the military’s West Bank division said on Monday the goal of the major operation in Jenin is to “change the situation” in the West Bank city.
“The city of Jenin, and in particular the refugee camp, is a stronghold of terror that exports terrorism to the entire [West Bank] and the home front,” says Brig. Gen. Avi Blot.
“In the eyes of the enemy, the refugee camp has become a ‘refuge city’ and the IDF’s freedom of action in the area is challenged,” he says.
“We are heading into this operation to change the situation and expand our freedom of action. Our mission: to create operational control, thwart and arrest terrorists, destroy enemy infrastructure, and confiscate weapons,” Blot says.
Blot refers to the operation by name, calling it Bayit Vagan, literally Home and Garden” [1]
On Tuesday night the 4th of July Prime Minister Netanyahu of the Zionist apartheid state said: “In recent months Jenin has become a city of refuge for terrorism. We are not prepared to accept this – and we are putting a stop to it. “At this moment, our forces are taking strong and determined action in Jenin. Commando Brigade soldiers, the Border Police, special forces, the Air Force, and others are now acting in the heart of the Jenin refugee camp. They are targeting and arresting terrorists and destroying command centers and laboratories. “There are no sanctuaries for terrorists – not in Gaza, not in Judea and Samaria, not anywhere. We are operating against the terrorists while making a maximum effort to avoid harming non-combatants. “We are taking the initiative and using the element of surprise. We are changing and being innovative. We are determining a new equation against terrorism, constantly. Our guiding principle is simple: Whoever murders Israelis, whoever conspires to murder us, will be in either jail or the grave.” [2]
Based on this statement one could expect that the thousands of Zionist soldiers and hundreds of armored vehicles will fight in Jenin for a long time. However, on Wednesday morning under heavy fire of the Palestinian fighters the Zionist army ran away like in 2000 from Lebanon. In this escape they lost a soldier. While the war took place the Zionist army killed 12 Palestinians among them 4 children and five confirmed fighters.
So, the question is who won in this round. Netanyahu will say: We of course smashed the terrorists.
The spokesperson for the Zionist army, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari reported: “Explosives were found in the refugee camp that the terrorists planned to throw at the fighters. We did not come to occupy the camp. This is not an operation against the Palestinian Authority, but against terrorism and the terrorist organizations in Jenin that make the lives of the Palestinian citizens there terrible.”
However, even the caricature of the right wing newspaper “Israel today” makes it clear that the Palestinian fighters won. The Hebrew title says: the spokesperson of the army: “Operation of home and garden ended, we will return to Jenin“.
The best indication who won the battle is “the Hundreds of Palestinians, chanting Allahu Akbar! (God is [the] greatest), took to the streets of the city of Jenin and its refugee camp late Tuesday to celebrate after Israeli security forces completed their withdrawal from the area.Flashing V-for-Victory signs with their hands, the Palestinians also chanted slogans in support of the local armed groups, specifically the Jenin Battalion, a militia said to be directed and funded by the Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Most of the commanders of the Jenin Battalion had fled the Jenin Refugee Camp shortly before the start of the large-scale Israeli security operation”.
“We swear to God to protect the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the soil of the camp,” some of the young men chanted, pledging to “follow in the path of the martyrs.”
“We taught them an unforgivable lesson,” said 23-year-old Ahmed Rashid, referring to the Israeli soldiers. “They were forced to pull out less than two days after the invasion because they failed to achieve most of their goals. Thank God, most of the fighters have not been harmed.” [3]
Another indication for the feeling of victory for the fighters in Jenin is the fact that the Zionist military was withdrawing troops from Jenin. “Hamas also claimed “victory” after the Israeli withdrawal and launched five rockets into southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens in the city of Sderot. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that “the Zionist operation in Jenin was “a failure.” “Israel failed and was defeated in Jenin,” Haniyeh said. He also said that Hamas was ready to support Jenin in any way” [4]
Another indicator is the shooting of Hezbollah from Lebanon indicating that they also are part of the victory of the fighters in Jenin.
And also, shortly after the Zionists war criminal’s withdrawal, “dozens of Palestinians attacked the local headquarters of the Palestinian security forces in Jenin with stones and explosive devices. The protesters accused the Palestinian security forces of “hiding” during the Israeli operation and failing to “defend” the Palestinians against the “aggression.” No one was hurt as Palestinian security officers responded with tear-gas to disperse the assailants. In the past 48 hours, several Palestinians took to social media to voice outrage against the PA and its security forces for their alleged “collusion” with Israel. Some pointed out that, according to reports in the Israeli media, Israel notified the PA in advance of its intention to launch a massive operation against the freedom fighters in the Jenin Refugee Camp. They said this was proof of the ongoing “collaboration” between Israel and the PA .“No one believes the Palestinian leadership,” said Murad Awad, 28, a resident of the camp. “They did nothing to help the people during the [Israeli] invasion. They ordered the [Palestinian] security forces to stay away. We didn’t see one security officer on the streets. This proves that the security coordination has not been suspended.” [5]
“The main goal of the operation was to end the phenomenon of resistance in Jenin,” said Mu’taz Khalil, a 35-year-old political activist from Nablus. “But it’s clear that this goal was not achieved. There are hundreds of gunmen in the camp. This operation, on the other hand, showed that all the armed groups are united in the field. There is no difference between Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad when it comes to confronting aggression.” [6]
“PIJ Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhaleh said in a statement after the Israeli pullout that “the Palestinian people scored a great victory by defeating the aggression against Jenin and its camp.”Nakhaleh said that the “Jenin Battalion and its fighters bravely and heroically led this great victory, and the Palestinian people proved with their unity and rallying around the mujahideen (warriors) that they can defeat the enemy in every confrontation.” [7]
Down with the Zionist crusaders apartheid state!
For a Palestine red and free from the river to the sea!
Endnotes:
[1] https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-west-bank-chief-operation-aims-to-change-the-situation-in-jenin/
[2] https://www.bicom.org.uk/news/news-update-operation-house-and-garden-enters-day-two
[3] https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-748907
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] Ibid