Lots of people have been running this Pulitzer picture, often with some pretty strong words about the bravery and heroism of the Israeli citizens who physically interfered with the soldiers trying to carry out the orders of Israel's legally elected government. While we aren't really interested in rehashing Amona, suffice to say that there was enough blame to go around.

That said, there are two very obvious about this picture, that aren't necessarily in the picture: (1) there was a photographer there and (2) that girl is still around to tell her story. The reason there was a photographer there is because Israel does what it does out in the open. The reason that the girl is still around - and the reason why she looks so heroic standing against so many soldiers - is because the soldiers had to swarm every single protester:

Which isn't to say that protesters weren't hurt. There were plenty of bandaged bodies and torn faces, as Anne reminds us. But this girl is still alive. She's still giving interviews.

So here's our small plea: can we have a moratorium on calling Israeli Jewish soldiers stormtroopers? Or calling the dismantling of settlements pogroms? It's a small thing, we know - but it seems like there are significant differences between the way that Israeli soldiers comport themselves and what Nazis would have done with these protesters.

References:
* The Amona Riot again [ImShin]
* UPDATE on Pulitzer Photo
* Settler in prize photo: God on my side

Previously:
* Settlers go Oedipal
* Jews Who Are Celebrating a National Tragedy
* Former Israeli Settlers Come to Pray for Sharon