Barak demands harsher legal action against unruly settlers
'Attempt to challenge State's authority is a severe phenomenon,' defense minister tell top security officials, orders establishment of special committee to monitor settler activity
Defense Minister Ehud Barak has instructed the security establishment to increase the use of administrative injunctions against unruly Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
During a meeting with top security establishment officials at his Tel Aviv office on Monday, Barak ordered the establishment of a committee to monitor settler activity in the territories.
Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin, Police Chief Dudi Cohen, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz were among those who took part in the meeting.
"The attempt to challenge the authority of the State and its representatives on the ground – the police and IDF – is a severe phenomenon," the defense minister said. "The security establishment must counter and eradicate this phenomenon.
The past few months have seen several incidents in which Jewish settlers have attacked Palestinians and their property.
Last week 29 right-wing activists were detained during a demonstration held outside 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.
On Sunday Jewish residents of the West Bank city of Hebron called for revenge against the Israel Defense Forces following Saturday night's evacuation of the home of extreme right-wing activist Noam Federman.
"We hope they are defeated by their enemies, we hope that they all become (kidnapped soldier) Gilad Shalit, that they are all killed and that they are all slaughtered, because that's what they deserve," one of the residents told Army Radio.
