The Yemenites part 9

Things have gone much better for the Yemenites after the 1950s. Many have "made it" in Israeli life, becoming businessmen, merchants, writers, even politicians. Ironically, although Yemenites and other Mizrahi Jews have political views that are right of center, those in government almost always gravitate to the left of center parties, despite the fact that these parties were their oppressors in the 1940s and 1950s. The reason that is usually given for this is that the right wing parties generally promise more, but give virtually nothing, while the leftist parties keep their promises. Nevertheless, Israeli society treats Mizrahi groups, and especially the Yemenites, as third class citizens. Most Ashkenazi Israelis would object to their children marrying Sepharadic or Yemenite spouses. A study came out in about 2000, that an Arab Israeli is far more likely to earn a college degree than a Mizrahi Israeli. From time to time, issues surface that highlite this situation. The 1995 assassination of Yitzchak Rabin was carried out by a Yemenite law student, who was also religious. Graffiti appeared at the site of the assassination "here, a little Yemenite, murdered a great man". Those words stood there for a month. Anti Yemenite and anti religious sentiments ran high for the next several years. The assassin, Yigal Amir, has been in solitary confinement ever since, in violation of every standard of International Law. His brother, Haggai Amir, was in solitary for sixteen years, for allegedly being an accomplice, but was finally released. He now writes extensively against the racism and prejudice in Israeli society. Many beleive that had their name been Goldberg, they would have been treated very differently. A current controversy centers around Elor Azaria. Elor, a sergeant in the IDF, was serving as a medic in Hevron, when two Palestinian terrorists stabbed an Israeli soldier. One terrorist was wounded, the other killed. Elor went to attend to the wounded terrorist, and shot him in the head, killing him. An army investigator came on the scene quickly. He asked Elkor what had happened. Elor said that the terrorists was making suspicious movements, and he feared that he was wearing an explosive vest. He felt his life to be in danger, and had acted in self defense. Elor was put on trial, in a way that many consider  to be a show trial.  The investigator told the court that Elor had said that he had acted in self defense. A few weeks later, he retracted that testimony, saying that Elor had admitted to acting out of vengeance. Elor, claimed the investigator,  is nothing more than a murderer. The Israeli left is anxious to show the world that it scrupulously safeguards the lives and rights of Palestinians. Calls were made for going tough on the young sergeant. To the right, it was obvious that he was being scapegoated. Elor was found guilty, but given only an eighteen month sentence.  His lawyers sought an appeal. They were told that if he appealed, the prosecution would press for a much tougher sentence,. If he didn't appeal, they would get him out quickly. His lawyer asked "how quickly, and will you put it in writing?" He was met with a refusal, and went on to appeal. The new trial is now ongoing. Even the Israeli Justice Minister said that he did not receive a "clean trial". Netanyahu asked  President Rivlin for a pardon, that was not forthcoming. In the last few days, Elor has been released to house arrest. The fact that he is Yemenite has figured prominently in news coverage. An entire community is, in effect, on trial. It is widely felt by many (including yours truly), that an expendable Yemenite is being sacrificed to appease world opinion. Elor's friends have been warned by "justice" officials not to speak to the media. There is the overwhelming feeling that had he been an Ashkenazi, nothing would have happened. How this turns out, remains to be seen. Many Yemenites have made their way to the United States. Yemenite synagogues are now commonplace in major American cities. They still have their internal conflicts, but are now a thriving community, here as well as in Israel, but with far less prejudice here. We must wait for not only the national redemption of Israel, but for the psychological and spiritual redemption as well. May it be soon!