Left-wing activists, settlers clash in Hebron

Leftist group's tour in West Bank city comes to abrupt end after dozens of right-wing activists, settlers block bus' way. Security concerns prompt police to cancel tour's permit
Anat Shalev

Right and Left butt head in Hebron: A tour of the West Bank city of Hebron, organized Friday by the Breaking the Silence group, was cut short after settlers stopped the bus in its tracks upon entering the city.

Security concerns then prompted the police to cancel the tour's permit.No injuries or damage were reported, and no arrests were made.

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Though authorized by both the police and the IDF, the tour met several dozen right-wing settlers, as well as extreme-right activists Itamar Ben Gvir, Baruch Marzel and Noam Federman, which literally stood before the bus at the entryway to Kiryat Arba, for approximately two hours.

"We had 15 policemen (on the scene) and no one did anything. None of the settlers were arrested. The IDF didn’t send in backup either to get us out of there, even though this is supposed to be a restricted military area," Yehuda Shaul, one of Breaking the Silence's activists told Ynet.

"This was a surrender to violence. We will make the police enforce the court order (allowing the groups to visit the city)," he added.

Baruch Marzel, was unfazed: "This in nothing more than a bunch of provocateurs. I find it weird that the police allows it." the Jewish Settlement in Hebron, he added, has filed a motion with the High Court asking the tours be banned, on ground of "disturbing the peace."

Marzel further claimed that many of the group's activists have police records, and that the court order allowing them to tour the city was obtained contrary to the defense establishment's stand on the matter.

Breaking the Silence is an organization which archives testimonies of IDF soldier who have served during the Second Intifada, while dedicating resource to bringing cases of abuse, looting and vandalism to light.

Efrat Weiss contributed to this report