_a.jpg "Photo: Yaron Brenner")
Gaza: Teens set Palestinian shed on fire
Some 300 youngsters residing in Kfar Darom break out of settlement Wednesday, hurl cinderblocks; rioters eventually contained by settlement leaders; Kfar Darom evacuation scheduled for Thursday; southern Command Head: The evacuation of the settlement may take longer
Some 300 youngsters residing in the Gush Katif settlement of Kfar Darom rioted Wednesday after they managed to break out of the community.
The rioters, who marched along the path leading to Kissufim road, apparently set a Palestinian shed on fire. They also hurled cinderblocks from a nearby bridge.
Palestinians responded by casting stones at the youngsters.
IDF forces were dispatched to the scene and extinguished the fire. Kfar Darom officials were eventually able to calm things down.
Kfar Darom settlers have decided not to act violently against security forces during the evacuation, but remain determined not to evacuate voluntarily.
During the past month the residents, with the help of dozens of anti-pullout teens who have infiltrated Gush Katif, have set up fortifications on the roof of the local synagogue, and the entrance gate to the settlement has been welded shut.
Security forces are expected flood the settlement on Thursday to evacuate the residents.
'I'll ruin your party'
One Kfar Darom settler told Ynet, “We are preparing for the security forces’ entrance, but we know the IDF will win. This isn’t a war, but we will not be wimps.”
Earlier Southern Command Chief Dan Harel said during a joint Israel Police - IDF briefing that the Kfar Darom evacuation may take longer than similar operations in other settlements.
“I want to mention the Palestinian side. There was great cooperation with them throughout the entire day, apart from one problem in Morag,” he said.
Southern District Police Chief Uri Bar-Lev said, “Thousands of people have attempted to infiltrate Gush Katif and Gaza during the past 48 hours. Thousands were blocked and more than 1,500 were arrested.”
Moments before the joint briefing began right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir caused a commotion when he entered the briefing hall and refused to leave.
“I cam here to tell the Major General (Harel) that he is a criminal for expelling Jews,” he said.
“I will ruin your party.”
He evacuated from the premises shortly thereafter.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report.
