Dozens of settlers surround IDF patrol in West Bank and assault soldiers
IDF patrol vehicle near Shilo trapped by roadblocks; settlers and soldiers clash in what a senior officer calls 'crossing a red line.'
By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: West Bank IDF Israel crime Israel settlementDozens of Jewish settlers surrounded an IDF patrol vehicle on Wednesday evening near the Shilo settlement, setting up roadblocks and physically assaulting IDF soldiers.
The incident began after rumors circulated that the Gal Yosef illegal outpost is about to be evacuated. At approximately 9 P.M. the settlers erected roadblocks and blocked the entrance to the outpost with their cars.
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Masked right-wing activists in the West Bank |
| Photo by: AP |
An IDF patrol vehicle that arrived on the scene was blocked by settlers. The soldiers tried to turn back, but were stopped by more roadblocks.
The vehicle was then surrounded by a few dozen youth from nearby settlements. When the soldiers asked them to let the vehicle pass, one of the soldiers was punched in the face, prompting a violent clash between the two sides. Soldiers who were called to the scene were able to detain one of the attackers, but he managed to escape.
A senior IDF commander said that "the army sees this incident as crossing a red line, and the settlers who were involved in violence against the soldiers will be arrested soon by the police."
Officers serving in the West Bank have reported recently that tensions between security forces and settlers are on the rise. According to one senior office, "the security forces spend more time dealing with incidents involving Israeli citizens than confronting Palestinian terrorism."
The Gush Shilo area has recently become one of the main friction points between Israeli security forces and settlers. Over the past few weeks, settlers have been attacking Palestinian farmers' property in the nearby village of Qusra, almost on a daily basis. On Thursday morning, villagers discovered some 200 olive and fig trees were uprooted or damaged throughout the night.
According to a recent Shin Bet security service report, right-wing extremists no longer appear to need a "trigger" to take action, while the targets of the violence are also widening - military vehicles at an IDF base near Ramallah have been vandalized, and threatening graffiti was sprayed onto the apartment door of a left-wing activist. Attacks on Arabs and their property are carried out when the opportunity arises, the Shin Bet officials add.
The Shin Bet also warned that the delegitimization campaign that extreme right-wing activists are conducting against civil servants could end in serious violence.
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20 would be dead, hundreds injured and everyone in the right will label it as terrorism. Nice Hypocrisy.
I agree that Jews should not be fighting Jews at all! But why are you so biased haaretz? Left wing activists and even Arabs attack chayalim or Jews haaretz has nothing! Why are is this paper have so much hatred to religious people?
"the security forces spend more time dealing with incidents involving Israeli citizens than confronting Palestinian terrorism." When it comes to settlers it is violance while when it comes to Palestinians it is terrorism! Amazing how we play with terms
The army deservs the treatment meeted out to them by the settlers as they are encouraged by Bibi and Liberman!!
"the security forces spend less time dealing with incidents involving Palestinian citizens than confronting Israeli terrorism" ?
clamp down on them like you would when this had been done by palestinians.
now the lunatics attack the people who are supposed to guard their priviliged existence in the Westbank.....how crazy must they get before serious action is taken ( of the kind Israel took in Awarta after the gruesome Fogelkillings)
Settlers need the IDF's protection, and this group at least is in danger of forgetting that fact. The IDF should withdraw from the area and leave them to it. Hopefully the Palestinians would be able to stop them uprooting olive trees, burning mosques, etc.
An attack by Israelis on the IDF is unheard of. This is a declaration by the settlers that they are not part of Israel. Perhaps it will make it easier to make peace with Abbas,
against Ehud Barak and the military for daring to confront Israelis instead helping them gain Greater Israel.
Civil War - here it comes. If Israelis are worried about what BDS will do to their international legitimacy they are worrying about the wrong thing! And you won't be able to blame the Palestinians for this violence. Netanyahu cannot control these lunatics as he has no idea which of the IDF or police will support the settlers and which will support the state... A scary time for the rule of law in Israel. But I'm afraid the govt only have themselves to blame
If they would have been Palestinians a few of them would have been shot
It seems that when the victims are IDF, suddenly the police actually do know their identities, while when the victims are Palestinians, there is no evidence at all.
Violence against the IDF, no matter who the perpetrator should be settled the same way ... with a bullet between the eyes. It shows the cowardice and malice they have towards the Palestinians and the double standard they have exuded for years.
Wake up, Israel! The whole settlement enterprise has made you reject Jewish values.
But if it was the palestinians then they would have immediately been called terrorists?? Is this fair? Im i crazy for being befuddled by this bias and racism?
soon there will be a civil war between these thugs from the colnies and the agencies of the state. You will see massive desertions as well as these thugs presently in the army will defect as they refuse to follow orders when it comes down to taking down these squatters villages across Palestine.
Settlers are a shame for israel.
It's time to call it by name. This is a treasonous revolt against the legitimate Israeli authority. They have taken up arms against Israel. These people have been coddled, and even encouraged for too long. Their interests are opposed to those of both Israel and the Palestinians. The military must not have its hands tied when dealing with those who commit treason.
Wow so when israelis do it its just them being naughty but when palestinians do anything its terrorism?? Israeli terrorism!!
And our zionist elite also gives Herzl awards to jewish rascists. And then you complain when things spiral out of control? Our heavyweight zionist leaders constantly gives fuel to radical and militant groups/criminals. This also has a devastating effekt not only on the territories, but on Israels society as a whole. The time has come to bring about real change in Israel - on all fronts. Enought with Liebermanism and Bibiology. There are other israelis that should step forward and offer real and realistic alternatives. Shame on the zionist leaders that encourage militant settlers to harm the State of Israel.
A bunch of settlers surround, intimidate and physically attack an IDF contingent, and all that happens to them is that one id briefly arreste before escaping. He may or may not then be arrest again, and he may or may not them be punished. It's no wonder the settlers think they rule the West Bank. Only solution is to let the Palestinian security forces deal with the settler scum. That would be amusing to watch.
They are also called extreme right-wing activists, if the Palestinian do the same than they are called terrorist. It shows the different.