Settlers attack Palestinians to avenge West Bank outpost demolition
Several dozen youths carried out a 'price-tag' operation after failing to prevent a synagogue's demolition.
By Chaim Levinson Tags: Israel news Israel settlersThe text messages were sent out en masse at about 9:43 A.M. "Buses full of Special Forces Police with flak jackets and nightsticks at the Rantis Junction," they warned. At 10:08 A.M., an update: "A large convoy that includes a D9 [bulldozer] is making its way to Gush Talmonim." At 10:15 A.M., the signal was given: "Demolition forces have taken over the gates. Everyone move in."
Several dozen teens from the area responded to the call and rushed to the Givat Menachem outpost, hoping to prevent the razing of the outpost's synagogue. It was too late. When they arrived, the police are already gone, leaving ruins behind them.
Avi Cohen searched the ruins of the synagogue for the missing mezuzah. Other teens also began to dig, to see if the cement foundations were still there.
And they began chanting slogans: "The police destroy nothing that belongs to Arabs." "The rule of evil is persecuting the settlements." "In 24 hours, we will set this place up anew." "We will not be broken."
As the number of teens at the site grew, and talk of the "unfair" treatment intensified, it was clear that a "price tag" operation - an attack against Palestinians or their property to retaliate for outpost demolitions - was only a matter of time. In recent months, the Dolev-Talmonim area has become a "price tag" zone.
The army had prepared for this in advance: It placed a military vehicle at the entrance of every single Palestinian village in the area.
But despite the military preparations, the youths found a weak point: a muddy path that led straight from the outpost to the Palestinian village of Bitilu, 500 meters away. Suddenly, the relative quiet turned into an assault, as one teen galloped to the top of the path, shouting, "Let's go! Mayhem!"
About 20 other teens, some with masked faces, joined him. They stopped suddenly near an olive tree, cut branches from it and made themselves improvised weapons. Other picked up stones, and one of the older ones became a security guard, making sure no journalists joined the operation.
"We will break your cameras," he threatened, to emphasize the risk of disobeying him. Another youth, his face masked, came up with a bottle of water to spill on the camera.
The crowd of rioters reached a house at the edge of Bitilu, which overlooks the nearby settlements. The house belongs to the Mazar family. Some of the teens approached the back of the house and threw stones at the windows. Other approached the car at the front and tried to set it on fire. One of the seats did catch fire, but the residents managed to put it out.
Two other members of the household tried to escape in another car. The rioters surrounded them and pelted them with stones.
Mohammed Mazar, who was visiting his grandmother, was hit in the head and began to bleed. Another relative was also injured, and both were evacuated to a local clinic.
All of this occurred in no more than two minutes. The rioters then quickly escaped, leaving behind destruction, casualties and an unsettled village. The village school was closed. Municipal workers were sent home. The shopkeepers in the center of the village closed their stores and rushed to the site of the attack. The villagers were furious.
Jamal Mazar showed everyone his son, who was bleeding from a wound to his head. Mohammed Radwan, the town's engineer, said at least 30 people were injured in the attack.
The villagers began preparing to attack the outpost and pay its residents back. But then, three border policemen arrived at the scene and barred the way.
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Settler Kills palestinian...its okay Settler beats a palestinian ...its okay. Imagine if the palestinian is armed or defends himeself...that would be Terrorism... because settlers are always civilians even if they are armed or are killing you. its simple...the IDF will stand there and watch 30 people get injured... and as always the settlers will find a "crafty" access to a village for their revenge. and in the end ? does the IDF catch the offenders ? NO they stop the villagers from Arming themselfs or defending themselfs. that simple its a circle that never ends with tons of grey zones. Settler = above the law
In a European city the zionists attacking Palestinians would spend several years in Jail.
But you should feel something for the Palestinians, shouldn't you? Instead of Israel's future, how about Palestinians' present?
Settler Trash at it's finest
You're bringing up a generation of monsters. Seriously. These kids will go on to exterminate whole villages.
Can someone correct me if I am wrong. Youth in Canada is defined as anyone ubder the age of 13. Thus I question just how much damage a bunch of let's say 10 year olds can inflict. So I ask, of what age is a youth in Israel.
Actually the evil terrorist Arabs cut the branches off their own olive trees and beat themselves silly with them. They then went to the left wing main stream media and blamed the people whom God promised the lands of Judea and Samaria for their injuries. Crafty devils!
give the palstians arms
don't protect the pals protect the settlers if i get one dumb settler in my town doing dumb stuff he's a goner
isreal better take care of the price tag thing soon before arabs get pay back
On video, you tube, TV, documentaries, etc. The settlers are out of control and no one can be blamed but the govt of Israel for not only allowing, but encouraging and financing the ILLEGAL and IMMORAL settlement enterprise. It will take time but Israel's dirty secret will be exposed and Israel will pay the price.
"The Palestinians are beasts walking on two legs" Menahim Begin, June 1982 "We have to kill all the Palestinians unless they are resigned to live here as slaves." Chairman Heilbrun of the commitee for the re-election of General Shlomo Lahat, the mayor of Tel Aviv Oct 1983. Say the exact same thig about a settler and you will labeled an anti-semite.
we should help the border palestinian villagers to establish their Hagana as we did back in the 20ths and 30ths. they have the right for self defence as our government and our security for seem to be unable to assure the security of the border palestinian populatio. We come back to the 36-39 situation only now it is the palestinian population in danger. LONG LIVE ISRAEL THE ONE AND ONLY REGIONAL DEMOCRACY. AND LET THE ALL MIGHTY HAVE MERCY FOUR OUR SOUL IF HE CAN STILL HAVE ONE
thankfully the borderpolice was just in time to bar the palestinians from their vengeance huh? Can't have palestinians rampaging now can we? Better leave that to the settleryouths!
"The settlers have inalienable rights to live in Israel." So the settlers have inalienable rights to live in Israel, fine. Then WTH are they doing in the WB? If you're going to say the WB is part of Israel, then why don't the arabs have the right to vote in Israeli elections? They live there, after all. "This mob attack is also similar to Pal practise." It's also very similar to the treatment the Ashkenazis had to endure in Europe. Have you no shame at all?
"The IDF is very ill prepared to confront settlers" The IDF is perfectly capable of confronting settlers. All they have to do is treat them the same way they treat the arabs. The problem is rather that the IDF doesn't care. They have a history of standing by and watching while the settlers destroy arab property.
This is called a"popular uprising. The settlers have inalienable rights to live in Israel. This mob attack is also similar to Pal practise. Pals have a nag to drive people out of their minds.
"It IS simple: no demolition of synagogues and Jewish property - no attacks on Arabs." This kind of stone-age tribal mentality has no place in the modern world. "Got it?" Yes, we got it; you're the kind of person who'd happily let a third party pay for perceived offenses ? mainly because you don't have the courage to deal with the party directly responsible for said offense. People like you are why Israel is doomed to fail. Better make friends with the local arabs real fast Tzuar. One way or the other, the IDF won't be there to protect you much longer.
Write a one paragraph essay on what the reaction would be ...
they suddenly become "civilians" under attack. Or rather "innocent civilians".
This Palestinian villages are very small, and the soldiers should have seen them and call for help. Better, they should have been followed as it was obvious what they would do. The IDF is very ill prepared to confront settlers
I am ashamed to be Israeli and a Jew
Shame, shame, shame... like pogroms in Kishinev. This people is destroying the memory and the history of the Jewish people.
Settlers young hooligans' behaviour and attitude is that of a the whole state, uncencored. They just take it to the grassroot level and bring it to action by the means available to them. I see no difference here with the Cast Lead operation, put aside scale of caused damage and weapons available. You cannot blame youngsters taking over the attitude of their parents and whole state.
Israel gives support and funding to these violent extremist settlers...therefore Israel is just as responsible as the violent settlers who committed these disgusting acts. The State of Israel should be held liable.
those villagers will be ready next time, and some of your ilks might bite the dust, perhaps then you will be forced to think clearer, if you could.
... re these shameless hooligans... Cossaks who will lead to the demise of Israel, if they remain loose and unchecked...
Palestinians have to know that not all Israelis would agree or approve these settlers'actions. Violence and terrorism are the devil's weapons. Sorry that these settlers have no proper sense or logic or least human compassion.
For people who claim to be an elite set close to God they sure are a violent bunch of thugs. The games up and they know it. We dont need to move them they can stay where they are once the Palestinian state has been declared. Welcome to Palestine.
Tzuar maybe we need to send the 101st airborne to the west bank to protect Palestinians from your settler buddies. Wonder what you and your buddies would do when they seen the "screaming eagles" in your face. Believe me its one thing fighting Palestinians but fighting one of America's most elite unit is another. You take that into account when you use bullying tactics son.
There is no excuse for this. Period.
Agree stop destroying synagogues and settlements and there will be no reprisals.
"It IS simple: no demolition of synagogues and Jewish property - no attacks on Arabs. Got it?" They need to ship your trouble making touchas back to whatever hole you crawled out of. Its definitely not the middle east. What goes around comes around. Dont cry about it later.
What kind of human being acts in such a disgusting manner as these people? It tells you a lot about the prejudiced upbringing within which they were raised. Disgusting...toof toof on your parents for raising you this way.
It IS simple: no demolition of synagogues and Jewish property - no attacks on Arabs. Got it?
It is clear that Israel will not protect the Palestinians from these extremist Israeli settlers, it is time to send in international forces to do the job. These radical settlers are nothing but scum and the World would be a better place without them.
These hoodlums are using the same logic terrorists use to justify blowing up innocent victims on airplanes and in shopping malls. "We're unhappy, so we'll make others not necessarily directly responsible for our problems suffer."