Source of dubious ‘beheaded babies’ claim is Israeli settler leader who incited riots to ‘wipe out’ Palestinian village
After an Israeli reserve soldier named David Ben Zion told a reporter Palestinian militants “cut [off] heads of babies,” Biden, Netanyahu, and the international media amplified the dubious claim.The Grayzone has identified Ben Zion as a fanatical settler leader who incited riots by demanding a Palestinian town be “wiped out.”
by Max Blumenthal and Alexander Rubinstein
Part 3 - Lead member of Israel’s apocalyptic Temple movement
Ben David appears to have been at the forefront of settler extremism for years. He was photographed in 2015 holding a microphone for the fanatical settler ideologue Noam Livnat, a self-described “radical right-wing messianist.”
According to the book, “Murder in the Name of God: The Plot to Kill Yitzhak Rabin,” Rabin’s assassin, Yigal Amir, “especially admires” Livnat. In 2005, Livnat led a mutiny of 10,000 IDF soldiers and reservists who vowed to refuse then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s order to remove illegal settlements from Gaza.
Ben David appears to share Livnat’s messianic obsessions. In 2018, he took his nephew to the base of the al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, which Jewish extremists have sought to replace with a Third Temple. “Why do Muslims still walk proud on this mountain?” he wrote, adding “there is a lot of work ahead of us.”
Ben David appears to share Livnat’s messianic obsessions. In 2018, he took his nephew to the base of the al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, which Jewish extremists have sought to replace with a Third Temple. “Why do Muslims still walk proud on this mountain?” he wrote, adding “there is a lot of work ahead of us.”
“Israel should build a Shul (synagogue) on the Temple Mount, followed by a 3rd Temple. We don’t need anyone’s permission,” a Facebook user wrote in response to the photo, which Ben David liked.
In another post from the holy site, Ben David wrote that “The Temple Mount is not only the past of the Jewish people but also the future.” He then urged his followers to donate to Beyadenu, an organization whose members attempt to slaughter lambs for sacrifice there.
In another post from the holy site, Ben David wrote that “The Temple Mount is not only the past of the Jewish people but also the future.” He then urged his followers to donate to Beyadenu, an organization whose members attempt to slaughter lambs for sacrifice there.
Ben David also appears to also share Noam Livnat’ obsession with the destruction of Gaza. Days after Israel launched Operation Protective Edge, the 50-day bombardment against Gaza that left nearly 1,500 Palestinian civilians dead, Ben David posted a photograph on Facebook of himself and fellow IDF soldiers posing in front of artillery positioned to spell out “The people of Israel live” in Hebrew. “The nation of Israel is with you until the end (of Gaza) Amen,” one Facebook user replied, which, again, Ben David ‘liked.’
As Netanyahu deploys the dubious allegation of beheaded babies to draw his US sponsors deeper into his war, Ben David’s apocalyptic fantasies draw closer to their fulfillment.
As Netanyahu deploys the dubious allegation of beheaded babies to draw his US sponsors deeper into his war, Ben David’s apocalyptic fantasies draw closer to their fulfillment.
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