Rightists try to block roads in protest of settler eviction warrants; 50 detained
Dozens of right-wing activists attempt to hold protest rally outside Central Command chief's Reut home; large police forces block their path
Dozens of right-wing activists were detained Tuesday afternoon for attempting to hold an illegal demonstration in front of the home of IDF Central Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni in Reut, near Modi'in.
Shamni recently issued three restraining orders against settlers residing in the West Bank settlements of Yitzhar and Adi-Ad, banning them from the area pending the conclusion of the upcoming Palestinian olive harvest.
The protest did not receive prior police approval and was therefore considered illegal.
Large police forces have boosted security around Shamni's home in the past few hours, and major traffic arteries in the area were blocked to prevent more protesters from approaching.
In the afternoon hours some 150 rightists rented buses and made their way toward Reut; police said they had planned to block Road 443 and then rally outside Shamni's home. About 50 activists were detained immediately after stepping off the buses for allegedly disturbing the peace; they were questioned at the Modi'in police station.
Responding to claims of police brutality toward the activists, a spokesman for the Shfela Sub-District Police said the officers were merely trying to prevent the rightists' from blocking a central road, which would have resulted in major traffic jams.
The Yesha Rabbinical Council said in response to the incident, "At a time when the High Court forbids the demolition of the Mercaz Harav terrorist's home, the government releases terrorists and Israel is easing restrictions on the Palestinians ahead of Ramadan, the State chooses to be cruel to the pioneer settlers and prevent the entrance of three settlers into the West Bank."
Efrat Weiss contributed to the report
