Security officials concerned by rise in rightist attacks

The growing tendency of right-wing activists and settlers to target and abuse soldiers and policemen who take part in evacuating West Bank outposts is arousing concern in the defense establishment.

Soldiers and policemen who monitor extreme right wingers have also been harassed and attacked.

Numerous incidents of harassment have been registered in recent months. So far the justice system has adopted an extremely lenient approach to these acts, if it dealt with them at all.

In one case, the Shin Bet was forced to move a key worker in the security service's Jewish department to another post, after Kach activists held a series of demonstrations outside his home in a settlement in the Ramallah area. His neighbors also criticized his work in the Shin Bet. He was posted to another job in the United States, but he did not sell his house in the settlement and may be planning to return there after completing his service overseas.

In another case, an IDF officer of the Shomron division received threats on his life. Then he was charged in a rabbinical court for taking part in the evacuation of an illegal outpost.

A paratroopers company commander, who lives in Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip, was assaulted when he tried to block the way of a mobile home heading for an illegal outpost in the West Bank. He was beaten and his kippa was hurled to the ground.

His assailant was issued a restraining order for one month barring him from the officer's home settlement.

A deputy commander of a Nahal regiment was beaten up by settlers holding an outpost because he made a comment to them. The officer lodged a complaint. The police are still looking into the matter.

On leaving his West Bank house with his wife and children, an infantry regiment commander recently encountered a vociferous demonstration of radical right-wing activists. They assailed him with complaints, because he had taken part in evacuating an illegal outpost in the West Bank.