Shvut Ami outpost
Photo courtesy of Yesh Din
Settlers cleared from West Bank outpost; Palestinian olive grove set on fire
IDF, Civil Administration clear Jewish settlers trying to set up tent at Shvut Ami outpost; settler leader Daniela Weiss arrested for allegedly attacking police officer. Olive grove belonging to Kadum residents set ablaze short while later
IDF forces and Civil Administration officials Thursday morning cleared settlers from the northern West Bank outpost of Shvut Ami, and two hours later a nearby olive grove belonging to Palestinians from the village of Kadum was set on fire.
Former Kedumim Council head Daniela Weiss arrived at the scene and was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer. Investigators later reported that two suspects of the arson had been found hiding in her home. Both are 25-year-old settlers, one from Hebron and one from Adi-Ad.
Hebron police detained the two and also arrested Weiss' husband on charges of obstruction of justice.
The IDF and Civil administration made their way to Shvut Ami after spotting five settlers who were trying to set up a tent there. The settlers were cleared from the area. Two hours later stones were hurled at security forces at the site, but no injuries were reported.
Meanwhile, a nearby olive grove owned by Palestinians was set on fire, and the blaze began spreading toward an IDF base and a police station in Kadum. Firefighters dispatched to the scene extinguished the blaze.
Two weeks ago Samaria Sub-District police arrested two Yitzhar settlers for suspicion of torching agricultural land belonging to Palestinians near the village of Ma'adama.
Palestinians reported that settlers had set fields on fire near Nablus and Kedumim.
