Hevron, Israel – Police were surprised when a local Arab stopped by their police station to return a cell phone that had been reported missing by a member of the Jewish community.
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The incident became clearer when officers realized that the cell phone was owned by Racheli Marzel, the daughter of local activist and politician Baruch Marzel. Marzel credited the return of the phone to his “good public relations.”
A week ago, Racheli realized that her phone was missing. She called the phone to see if someone had found it, and reached an Arab man, who told her that he was willing to return the phone – in exchange for 1,000 shekels.
An angry Racheli told the man that even if he had cleaned her house for a full month, she would not give him 1,000 shekels. She then warned him that her father, Baruch Marzel, would take care of the matter.
From that moment, the man’s tone changed, Racheli said, and he began begging her to take the phone back for no charge. “Marzel is the head of your clan, I don’t want problems,” he said. “This phone will bring me only bad things.”
Racheli, who doubted the man’s intentions, ended the conversation and refused to speak to the phone thief again.
When he realized that Racheli would not take his calls, the thief turned to a friend and convinced him to return the phone to police.
The unprecedented gesture created suspicion in the local police station, and a sapper was called in to dismantle the phone, in case it had been turned into a bomb.
When the phone was found to be safe, police called Baruch Marzel, who came to the station and collected the pieces of his daughter’s phone.
The incident demonstrates the value of his tough approach, Marzel said. “Our neighbors understand the language we speak with them,” he explained.
“I’m glad that I have such good public relations with the Arabs here that they returned the phone of their own accord,” he added.
Mr. Marzel is to be commended for speaking the only language that Arabs seem to understand. If only all of Israel would follow Mr. Marzel’s example we would have significantly less problems. Yasher Koach Mr. Marzel we need more like you! And Yasher Koach to Racheli Marzel for not caving in, your Abba taught you well. Chazak, Chazak V’nisChazek
I have long said that this is the approach that is needed. Yasher koach to Baruch Marzel!
they planted a chip in the phone
This story needs to be spread to all media outlets.
baruch marzel – ish chevron!
It doesn’t take a scientist to figure the Arab mentality out..Marzel should be promoted to the Foreign Ministry…
Marzel is the definition of the right balance between Chesed and Givurah. anybody who has spent a Shabbos in Chevron (and I mean anybody, Chassidis, Litvish, frum not yet frum….) knows the unbelievable Hacnasas orchim that he and his family show, but at the same time he is smart enough to understand that wen dealing with the enemy you must show strength.
The liberal Jews of today must learn that.
Interesting. Shows something about the arab mentality. Israelis and westerners have to understand that the arabs do not think like us. If we want to engage them, whether in war or commerce or peace, we have to think like they do. You have to know your enemy.
However, this Marzel has advocated violence against homosexuals. I find it hard to agree with someone who advocates violence against a minority. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think homosexual marriages should be recognized by the government but I do not advocate violence against them.
Mr. Marzel should run for PM. He is a LEADER not a follower.
What ever happened to the klal of asur lihisgaros bagoyim? Why are we commending a person who clearly ignores this halacha? Its like the baryonim in the time of the second bais hamikdash! The chachamim didnt want war but there were trouble makers and rabble rousers that caused the bais hamikdash to be destroyed. People who don’t follow the hanhaga that Chazal set out for us cause only strife and danger for Klal Yisrael! A person who puts the Jewish Nation at risk shouldn’t be patted on the back and smiled at. We don’t need a modern day baryoni to cause more and greater catastrophes for our people!! May we accomplish the navi’s command to be “bihatznaya leches im hashem elokainu.”
You are all racist if you think that Arabs only understand fear, threats and violence. The things that Baruch Marzel says are highly offensive and racist, and I don’t see how he, as a leader, would ever bring peace to Eretz Yisroel. Does he really think that by acting in the name of G-d that the Arabs and irreligious Israelis will meekly accept what he believes? Of course not – we need to reach out to them, not ram our beliefs down their faces.
The Arab thief was clearly frightened by the thought of angering him. I’m not excusing terrorists, or even saying that most Arabs are willing to concede land to Jews; simply that Marzel should not be commended for behaving as he does.