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Last update - 04:52 02/10/2008
IDF West Bank commander: Rightist violence encouraged by settler leaders
By Amos Harel
Tags: Israel news, Gadi Shamni 

Israel Defense Forces GOC Central Command Major General Gadi Shamni has leveled harsh criticism against extremist West Bank settlers who have attacked Palestinians and IDF soldiers in recent weeks.

In an interview with Haaretz over the Rosh Hashanah holiday, Shamni said the radical behavior among rightists has grown in light of encouragement they receive from the settler leadership, rabbis and public. As the officer heading Central Command, Shamni is responsible for the entire West Bank.

"There has been a rise in Jewish violence in Judea and Samaria. In the past, only a few dozen individuals took part in such activity, but today that number has grown into the hundreds. That's a very significant change. These hundreds are engaged in conspiratorial actions against Palestinians and the security forces. It's a very grave phenomenon," he said.
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In recent weeks, settlers have let a dog loose on an IDF reserves company commander, broke the hand of a deputy battalion commander and punctured the car tires of a reserve soldier. In Hebron, a Golani Brigade officer was attacked after trying to prevent Jewish children from hurling stones at Palestinians.

"What does a reserve soldier say who comes to protect Israeli citizens and discovers that masked Jewish youths have punctured the tires of his vehicle?" Shamni asked during the interview.

"And this happens today, when Judea and Samaria is a relatively secure area. The roads are open. There is friction [with Palestinians], but the feeling of the Jewish population overall is excellent," he said.

"The majority of people here act normally. We're talking about a hard core of a few hundred activists among some 300,000 Jews who live beyond the Green Line. But what this bunch does is causing tremendous damage, both to the image of the IDF and to the state of Israel," he added.

"This is harming our ability to carry out security missions in the territories. We have to divert our efforts to there from other issues. The margins [in the settler community] are expanding, because they are enjoying a tailwind and the backing of part of the leadership, both rabbinical and public, whether in explicit statements or tacitly."

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  • Prof. Sternhell: Supporters of occupation are not Zionist
  • Settlers deny involvement in shooting death of West Bank shepherd
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      1.   Well That`s The Problem! 03:45  |  Reader 02/10/08
      2.   Disengagement Encourages Radical Left Wing Anarchists Violence 05:20  |  Joseph.E 02/10/08
      3.   IDF Officers the new political police? 05:23  |  howiej 02/10/08
      4.   Mr Gadi, or goat in English,.......... 05:47  |  George Halesworth 02/10/08
      5.   Poor Gadi, its the jews are the problem, right? Not arab terror 05:53  |  Hal 02/10/08
      6.   1 Reader 06:00  |  Joseph.E 02/10/08
      7.   Seems like a smart and inteligent man 06:21  |  ID 02/10/08
      8.   Palestinian Violence encouraged by Israeli Leaders!! 07:23  |  Ben 02/10/08
      9.   Grosse Generalizations do not help!!! 07:27  |  Yaki 02/10/08
      10.   The Jewish people, strong and united will not fear its enemies. 07:32  |  Jean Van Daem 02/10/08
      11.   What a discovery !! 09:14  |  Michael 02/10/08
      12.   "This is harming our ability to carry out security missions " 09:58  |  Jew 02/10/08
      13.   Lies, More Lies! (but typical) 10:33  |  Baruch Gold 02/10/08
      14.   Jewish Militia In the East Is Answer to Problem 10:37  |  Baruch Gold 02/10/08
      15.   Let us deal with those extremist jews 11:22  |  B.Saleem 02/10/08
      16.   Reminder: Palestinian violence encouraged by left leaders 11:23  |  Joe Sittizen 02/10/08
      17.   Army threw them from their homes 11:42  |  shlomo 02/10/08
      18.   Will He protect Jews from being kicked out of their homes? 12:03  |  Allon 02/10/08
      19.   Baruch Gold #`s 13,14 is exactly the problem. 12:17  |  S 02/10/08
      20.   A question 12:20  |  brendan 02/10/08
      21.   IDF West Bank commander: Rightist violence encouraged by settler 12:32  |  Baruch Buchbinder 02/10/08
      22.   A question with a question for Brendan 12:41  |  Joe Sittizen 02/10/08
      23.   Answering Brendan the sensitive`s question...with a question 12:44  |  Hastaroth 02/10/08
      24.   As soon as Iran and Syria possess nuclear ... 13:02  |  Dutch Dirk 02/10/08
      25.   Of course 13:31  |  Murray 02/10/08
      26.   encouraged. 13:34  |  colin 02/10/08
      27.   Settlers 13:52  |  Inge Detlefsen 02/10/08
      28.   joe sittizen 14:06  |  potobac 02/10/08
      29.   Whine, complain, sniffle 14:17  |  Mark Lincoln 02/10/08
      30.   Dutch Dirk 14:33  |  lady from USA 02/10/08
      31.   Questions 14:51  |  brendan 02/10/08
      32.   And Treason By The Left Is Ignored 14:53  |  Joe Klien 02/10/08
      33.   Samaria and Judah need their own police 14:55  |  lady from USA 02/10/08
      34.   Joe E, No. Don`t Use Those Guys. 15:06  |  Reader 02/10/08
      35.   Reader 15:39  |  lady from USA 02/10/08
      36.   It`s up to the security forces to set the delinquents straight 15:42  |  x-ray 02/10/08
      37.   potobac, from Joe S. 15:43  |  Joe Sittizen 02/10/08
      38.   Inge Detlefsen 16:20  |  lady from USA 02/10/08
      39.   Joe Sitizen 16:34  |  Sylvie 02/10/08
      40.   Dear Inge Detlefsen, sorry, you`re wrong 17:18  |  Joe Sittizen 02/10/08
      41.   Gadi Shamni-well done for speaking out.. 17:23  |  Silvienne 02/10/08
      42.   joe sittizen 37 17:33  |  potobac 02/10/08
      43.   Settler violence 18:29  |  Hans 02/10/08
      44.   Hal #5 simple minded view 18:32  |  T A Sheppard 02/10/08
      45.   To Baruch Gold from Hevron 18:42  |  Hans 02/10/08
      46.   When Democracy and the Rule of Law can be manipulated 21:03  |  Joseph.E 02/10/08
      47.   #33 lady from USA, ghetto`s in NY and LA need their own police 21:29  |  Mak B. 02/10/08
      48.   Poor impotent IDF 21:34  |  David 02/10/08
      49.   Why do people defend settler violence 22:24  |  Dave Duncan 02/10/08
      50.   Violation of Human Rights by IDF=anarchy 22:50  |  sam 02/10/08
      51.   # 47 Dave Duncan "Defend Not Arab Occupation-violence" 00:18  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      52.   # 48 sam "Violation of Human Rights by Arabs= Dhimmitude" 00:19  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      53.   Arabs Occupation Is Abusive , Obsessive ,Schizophrenic , 00:25  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      54.   IDF pays the price for taking part at evacuations ! 00:30  |  Meluimnik 03/10/08
      55.   peace 00:31  |  mustafa 03/10/08
      56.   Lefties Violence Raises its 7th Century Mentality Again . 00:40  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      57.   Jewish violence is un-acceptable 02:37  |  Peace Now 03/10/08
      58.   George #4 02:54  |  Miche Norman 03/10/08
      59.   Why do people defend settler violence? 04:01  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/08
      60.   to Baruch Gold #13 - More Lies! (but typical) 05:05  |  zeev 03/10/08
      61.   #19 S, #43 Hans #58 Zev 07:46  |  Baruch Gold 03/10/08
      62.   to lady from USA #35 09:38  |  zeev 03/10/08
      63.   to Dave Duncan #47 09:54  |  zeev 03/10/08
      64.   to lady from USA #35 10:39  |  zeev