IDF arrests 35 rightists holed up in Jericho synagogue

The Israel Defense Forces yesterday arrested 35 right-wing demonstrators who barricaded themselves in an ancient synagogue in the West Bank town of Jericho.

The activists, who broke through army and police checkpoints in the vicinity, descended on the area in the hope of "renewing Jewish settlement in Jericho."

The incident was staged by a group called Gar'in Jericho, which is affiliated with Noar L'ma'an Eretz Yisrael ("Youth for the Land of Israel"). Gar'in is the Hebrew term for an initial group of settlers.

One of the movement's goals is an Israeli return to areas that are currently under full Palestinian control, including Nablus and Jericho. The event was planned weeks in advance and pamphlets were distributed in relevant locales.

With police and IDF soldiers observing from close by, scores of activists congregated in the nearby settlement of Mevo'ot Jericho at around 4:30 P.M. yesterday. Among them were prominent right-wing activists Baruch Marzel, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Rabbi Yosef Badichi, who distributed maps marked with illustrated directions to the activists' destination.

"There is a historic awakening for a return to the historic places of the Land of Israel," said Meir Bretler, one of the leaders of Gar'in Jericho. "This is a return to places where we once were, places like the synagogue in Jericho."

"Jericho, Nablus and Ramallah are also part of the Land of Israel, and we will reach all these places," National Union MK Michael Ben Ari told the participants by phone. "Fifteen years ago, the relinquishing of the land began with Jericho first. We are correcting this historic crime. The silence over Jericho cost us Nablus and Gush Katif." The latter refers to settlements in the Gaza Strip.

After Ben Ari's statements, the signal was given for the activists to move. "We are returning to Jericho," Bretler screamed into his megaphone.

In an attempt to head off the group, the army locked the settlement's gates. But the activists promptly scaled the fence. One of the soldiers yelled, "If you get past the fence I'll dismantle you." Apparently, no one took the threat seriously.

One soldier threw a punch at one of the activists who broke through the barrier, while another soldier accosted a Channel 2 television reporter in an attempt to force him to cease filming the incident.

Realizing that they were overwhelmed, the soldiers decided to accompany the activists on their march.

The activists reached the ancient Na'aran synagogue in Jericho, where they burst out in song and dance. A Palestinian police force arrived on the scene and prepared to face down the activists, but backed off following a request from the head of the Civil Administration, Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai.

Finally, the squatters were forcibly removed by border policemen, and 35 of them were taken for questioning at the Ma'aleh Adumim police station. The activists said three squatters were injured by blows they absorbed from the police.