IDF in West Bank (archive)
Photo: Gil Yochanan
IDF officer opens fire during scuffle with settlers
Group of settlers from Hashmonaim cut through settlement fence and set up pavilion to spend Shabbat on nearby hilltop, east of Ramallah. Soldiers claim that settlers harassed officer who ordered them to evacuate area, and tried to grab his weapon. Settlers however claim he fired shots without provocation
Scuffles erupted Saturday between settlers and IDF forces near the settlement of Hashmonaim east of Ramallah in the West Bank.
During the scuffle, an IDF officer fired warning shots into the air to disperse settlers who allegedly attempted to snatch his weapon, the army said.
No one was wounded in the incident, but six settlers were arrested.
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According to military forces, on Friday evening a group of 15 settlers cut the fence surrounding Hashmonaim and climbed a nearby hill, where they set up a pavilion and were holding prayers.
IDF forces and police who arrived at the scene waited for the settlers to conclude the service, then requested they leave the premises, the army said.
The lieutenant colonel warned the settlers that IDF forces would not stay there to protect them, but the worshippers refused to leave.
Soon more settlers joined them and surrounded the officer, hurling insults at him and calling him "Nazi". According to soldiers who were at the scene, one settler grabbed the officer's weapon, but the general pushed him backed and fired shots in the air as a warning.
Different version of events
Settlers involved in the incident, however, said that no one tried to seize the officer's gun and claimed that he fired additional shots towards the ground, putting them in danger.According to the settlers the officer arrived at the scene where they were praying, declared it a closed military zone and ordered them to evacuate within ten minutes.
The settlers sat down to discuss what to do, as Shabbat had almost started. At this point the officer cut down a roasting spit they had set up.
"We tried to stop him but he lost control. He yelled 'get out of here or I'll shoot'. He cocked his weapons and then we all ran away and he fired two shots," one settler said.
A settler involved in the incident told Ynet that they had wanted to occupy the hill for a long time already, but the IDF would not authorize them to do so. "We weren't planning on settling there permanently, we just wanted to have a Shabbat there," he explained.
Security forces arrested four youths near the settlement fence, plus two more suspects who had tried to escape the scene.
According to police the six refused to identify themselves and were arrested for hindering a police officer, illegal gathering and damaging the security fence.
A remand hearing was held Saturday night at the Jerusalem District Court.
Regarding the incident, an army statement noted that the IDF condemns any assault on soldiers or attempt to damage army property.
