Free fowling
Inflatable chicken protests gov’t inaction
A 10-meter chicken with the slogan “Putting an end to fear, demanding an Israeli victory” was placed at the entrance to the Knesset on Wednesday, while the Central Elections Committee debated candidate disqualification requests inside.
The massive chicken was brought to the Knesset by the Israel Victory Project (IVP) in protest of what the group claimed to be “weak” governmental actions against Hamas and Palestinian terrorism.
Prof. Simcha Goldin – father of the fallen soldier Hadar, whose remains are held captive by Hamas in Gaza – said: “We need to change the equation in which Hamas kidnaps soldiers and uses them as an asset.
“Hamas is a terrorist organization of 30,000 thugs who hold two million Gazans hostage, and is running rings round Israel,” he said. “Israel’s citizens are not afraid; you are afraid. We demand policies.”
Liran Baruch, chairman of the IDF Disabled Veterans’ Forum for Israel’s Security, said: “We have deals with murderers, and today it pays to murder Jews.” He called to deport the families of convicted terrorists, destroy their homes, and initiate capital punishment.
On August 7, IVP activists changed existing Tel Aviv street names into Yasser Arafat Street, Ismail Haniyeh Street and Incendiary Balloons Street.
IVP works with the Forum of Bereaved Families, the Forum of IDF Disabled Veterans and some of the families who were removed from Gush Katif in 2005.
Activists claimed the giant chicken is in “protest of the cowardice shown by Israeli governments throughout the years when facing Hamas and Palestinian resistance” and said that the chicken will make guest appearances across the country at central venues.
While English-speakers often use the term “chicken” to mean “cowardice,” the Hebrew word does not carry this connotation.