Seven leftists arrested after clash with West Bank settlers
IDF arrests activists for illegally entering closed military zone near Bat Ayin; one activist wounded.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel settlements Israel news IDFSeven left-wing activists were arrested Saturday for violating a closed military zone order near the West Bank settlement of Bat Ayin.
About 30 Israeli, Palestinian and foreign activists from the rights group Ta'ayush arrived at the site Saturday morning to help local Palestinians with agricultural work.
Activist Mairav Zonszein told Haaretz that settlers assaulted the activists and pelted them with stones. One person, a Palestinian photographer, was injured in the confrontation.
According to the activists, Israel Defense Forces soldiers arrived at the scene ten minutes after settlers began assaulting them and then the settlers fled.
The IDF had declared the area a closed military zone, but the activists refused to leave until the soldiers arrested settlers who attacked them.
Zonszein said the soldiers' actions contradict a High Court ruling from 2006 stating that soldiers must protect Palestinians while they work their land.
"The army consciously helps the settlers," Zonszein said. "It does not arrest them and allows them to flee."
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