Violent clashes erupt at illegal outpost
About 150 settlers clash with security forces who arrived to demolish illegal structure built in Gush Etzion; dozens barricade themselves in caravan designated for evacuation; police officers succeed in evacuating caravan after using tear gas ; 11 settlers detained
The settlers claimed the soldiers acted violently and used tear gas against them, causing injuries to some, including children. The IDF claimed the settlers hurled paint, eggs and mud at the soldiers and puntured the tires of an army vehicle.
Police officials said that four police officers were lightly injured in the clashes and that two of them were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment. The settlers claimed that 12 of them were injured from the tear gas used by the police.
The clashes erupted after Civil Administration officials arrived Wednesday morning accompanied by IDF and police forces at the Neveh Daniel outpost, in order to tear down seven temporary structures and a caravan turned into a permanent structure.
Civil Administration officials claimed the residents were informed prior to their arrival that the structures were illegal and therefore must be demolished.
As a result, dozens of settlers gathered in the area in a bid to prevent the demolition.
Clashes erupted and additional army and police forces were dispatched to the area where they were faced with resistance by some 150 settlers.
Police arrested 11 settlers on suspicions of clashing with security forces and took them in for questioning. According to the settlers, the forces used violence against them and even threw tear gas at a caravan in which dozens of settlers had barricaded themselves.
Clashes during outpost evacuation (Photo: Reuters)
The Yesha Council blasted the police's decision to use tear gas against the settlers.
"The settlers who barricade themselves in the caravan did not act violently and did not endanger the evacuation forces, and the decision to use such a violent and harsh method like gas against them was a hasty and wrong decision," sources at the Yesha Council said, warning against harsh words and unnecessary violence on both sides.
The Yesha Council's human rights organization filed a complaint to the Police Investigation Units against the police officer who used tear gas against the settlers. In addition, a complaint was filed against a police commander and police officers who, according to the settlers, prevented the injured settlers from receiving medical treatment. The organization demanded that the police launch an investigation in order to determine who was responsible for the use of tear gas, which was committed in violation of the regular rules.
Police officials said in response that one of the police officers used his personal tear gas in order to allow another officer to enter the structure without entering through a window, a move which may have caused injuries to a number of settlers hiding inside.
Security forces gained control of the structure and began evacuating the settlers in order to tear it down.
‘First shots in struggle over Judea and Samaria’
Following the violence, Knesset member Arieh Eldad (National Union) called on Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to immediately arrive at the site to control the soldiers and prevent further injuries.
Meanwhile, Yesha Council held a press conference to express its position on government plans to evacuate the outpost of Amona.
“We will fight for every outpost evacuated as if it
were a settlement. That was the first shot in the struggle over Judea and Samaria,” Yesha officials said.
Nine settler families entered homes in Amona in defiance of IDF orders to evacuate the illegal structures set to be demolished.
“That’s the first step in the resolute struggle of settlers against the demolition orders. The IDF breached guarantees made over the summer not to destroy these houses and therefore we are no longer bound to our commitments,” settler leaders said.
During the press conference held in Amona, north of Jerusalem, Binyamin Regional Council Head Pinchas Wallerstein said “In a paradoxical way, the provocation of the security establishment and the political establishment in Amona is worse than in Gush Katif. I know no one who forgives Sharon for his deeds.”
According to Wallerstein, the IDF plans to evacuate Amona next Tuesday night. Some 1000 security personnel are expected to participate in the evacuation.
He added that the IDF took a snap decision to evacuate the outpost after receiving intelligence that Palestinian terror groups have planned a number of terror attacks in the Amona area after the parliamentary elections of January 25.
