Clashes in Mount Hebron (Archive)
Photo: Reuters
Hebron house evacuation
Photo: Dudi Vaknin
Settler harassments drive police away
Community policing station in Mount Hebron closed after settlers repeatedly vandalized building, sprayed 'Nazi' graffiti on wall; locals claim police are ones guilty of violence
Head of the Samaria and Judea District police decided Wednesday to close the community policing station in the West Bank southern Mount Hebron area, due to ongoing harassments by local settlers.
According to police sources, ever since security forces have been involved in the evacuation of the illegal Amona outpost and the razing of buildings at the place, the station's building has been repeatedly vandalized by settlers. Incidents included damage to property, smashing of windowpanes, and sabotaging signposting. At one case the word "Nazi" was sprayed on the structure's walls.
Settler Violence
Efrat Weiss
Residents of Maon Farm outpost in southern Mount Hebron hurl stones, bricks at Palestinian school children, soldiers who escorted them. Four kids, two troops sustain light injuries. Outpost must be evacuated, Meretz MK says
The last straw was an incident that took place Wednesday, when paint was thrown at the community policing force's car. As a result, the District's chief ordered that the station be closed.
Police claim that they have tried engaging in dialogue with the settlers in recent weeks, but that the harassment would not stop. According to police, the station will remain shut until the Local council decides what steps it plans to take in order to address the problem.
Community policing officers serve the community, and targeting them equals targeting the community itself, they said.
'We can do without community policing'
Despite the decision, officials stressed that the police will continue to provide services to the residents when required.
Meanwhile, settlers at the Maon Farm outpost told Ynet that "we can do without community policing. For several weeks now the police, in cooperation with extreme-Left activists, have been acting against the farm and spreading false rumors about us, in effect trying to get the place evacuated."
"Policemen have falsely arrested people here. On Saturday, soldiers fired at the farm's residents and several youngsters here were severely beaten by officers. After all this, it is the police that go running to the media claiming we're violent," they stated.
