Israel Matzav: 'Pass nisht'

'Pass nisht'

'Pass nisht' is a Yiddish expression that is used when you cannot articulate a legitimate reason not to take a certain action, but you really don't want to do it. It just doesn't look or feel right. The problem is that sometimes even if something is 'pass nisht' it's the right thing to do. That's what came to my mind when I saw that the IDF is not conducting raids to arrest 'Palestinian' terrorists in Judea and Samaria due to the presence of American diplomats touring the area.

The Israel Defense Forces has canceled a number of planned arrest operations in the West Bank fearing soldiers will be seen by American diplomats touring the territories.

IDF officers serving with their units in the West Bank said they were instructed by brigade commanders in recent weeks to call off the planned arrests of wanted men inside Palestinian towns, because of these diplomats' presence.

The diplomats, mostly employees of the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem, have been traveling regularly to the West Bank to gather testimony on settlement construction, to oversee American-funded projects and to meet with Palestinian Authority officials.

"We were told that the situation with the Americans is sensitive, and that it is not desirable that operations are conducted that could lead to violent situations when they [the Americans] are there," one of the officers said.

In other words, the IDF is creating a situation where American diplomats are being used as human shields for 'Palestinian' terrorists.

What could go wrong?

Israel Matzav: 'Pass nisht'