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Barak wants to ban violent extremists from West Bank By Amos Harel and Nadav Shragai Tags: settlers, West Bank  Defense Minister Ehud Barak favors barring right-wing extremists who attack soldiers or policemen from entering the West Bank, and in extreme cases, even putting them in administrative detention. On Tuesday, he plans to discuss the issue of law enforcement in the West Bank with senior army, police and legal officials, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said. On Sunday, when the army evacuated an illegal outpost near Hebron, extremist settlers cursed soldiers, with one even saying that they deserved to be killed or kidnapped by terrorists. In an interview with Israel Radio yesterday, Barak termed this behavior "very grave." Advertisement "We are already working with all our might to restrain and halt these phenomena, with an iron hand if necessary. There [in Hebron], it was words. In other cases, it is deeds - raising a hand against soldiers and policemen," he said. "This is also a challenge for our penal system," he added. "We need forceful, uncompromising action. We are going to increase the severity of punishments for extremists. We must convince our judges that this is not just bothering a civil servant at the National Insurance Institute, it's an attempt to undermine the state's sovereignty. Such people should be put behind bars. If there is no choice, we will also have to improve our use of the Emergency Regulations," which permit administrative detention or orders barring specific individuals from certain locales. Barak has long viewed the courts as the weak link in the struggle to enforce the law in the territories. In closed forums, he has said many judges take a lenient approach to settlers who use violence against the security forces or Palestinians. Meanwhile, the man whose remarks aroused the ire of Barak and many other Israelis on Sunday issued an open letter on Monday insisting that his curses were not aimed at Israel Defense Forces soldiers in general, but only at a few specific individuals. "I have never generalized about any group, and especially not about IDF soldiers," wrote Shmuel Ben Yishai, a former member of the banned Kach party. "Nevertheless, there is no doubt about what is in my heart toward those responsible for destroying the houses of two families. Them, we will not forget and we will not forgive ... Anyone who was a party to expelling Jews will not be absolved. I pray that God will repay them as they deserve, forcefully and quickly." Later, Ben Yishai told the Arutz Sheva radio station that he would never generalize about IDF soldiers, "most of whom [are willing to] give their lives for Israel. I spoke only about the evil forces who perpetrated this criminal act against the Federman and Tor families ... There has never been anything like this since the Chmelnitzki riots." Army sources noted that Sunday's incident near Hebron was a direct continuation of settlers' violence during other outpost demolitions in recent months. About two months ago, GOC Central Command Gadi Shamni issued orders barring four extremist settlers from the West Bank. That outraged many settlers, and recently, there have been weekly protests outside Shamni's home in Re'ut. Related articles: Yossi Sarid / Rule of Barak: See no evil, hear no evil Gideon Levy / Yes, hate Israel Harel / Have we become Sodom? Bookmark to del.icio.us   Livni ahead in polls Netanyahu loses lead he has held for two years, while Labor heads for election debacle. The frozen chosen In staunchly Republican Alaska, a Jewish Democrat may take state's lone seat in Congress.   1.   Settler now even too violent for the IDF LOL 03:59  |  james 28/10/08   2.   From beginning to end.... 04:08  |  Johnboy 28/10/08   3.   good idea, take them off the streets 05:42  |  nehemia dB 28/10/08   4.   And yet Johnboy... 06:25  |  BBSNews 28/10/08   5.   #4 BBSNews, that`s the Bush Doctrine 07:11  |  Johnboy 28/10/08   6.   Why are you hiding the fact that he apologized ?? 07:12  |  Jew 28/10/08   7.   The left and the settlers (or should we say the pioneers?). 07:17  |  Jean Van Daem 28/10/08   8.   Barak gets to choose who is an "extremist" 07:23  |  Ben Uziel 28/10/08   9.   Always hearing about what Barak WANTS to do... 08:48  |  Esther 28/10/08   10.   I agree - all who support terror should be banned from West Bank! 09:57  |  Dr Eric 28/10/08   11.   Ban violent terrorists from destroying legal jewish homes 10:08  |  sam 28/10/08   12.   Peace In The Middle East. 10:32  |  Daniel Garcia 28/10/08   13.   barak is like a flash of lightning- in the daytime! 11:12  |  sz 28/10/08   14.   my mistake 11:24  |  jojo 28/10/08   15.   how very unwise of barak with elections looming 11:34  |  victor hardman 28/10/08   16.   About time. No one should be above the law. 12:51  |  Jo 28/10/08   17.   Right move...kick out that scum! 13:45  |  Hans 28/10/08   18.   #8 How does it feel? 14:51  |  Outsider 28/10/08   19.   How about Putting People Who Committ Violence In Jail?? 15:04  |  B`Galil 28/10/08   20.   About time too, to ban VIOLENT extremists. 16:19  |  Ari 28/10/08

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