Jewish settlement in Hebron bans rioting youths
Hours before Chayei Sarah Shabbat begins with thousands expected to attend reading in Hebron, Jewish settlement spokesperson says troublemakers sent away
”We have evacuated a number of rioting youths. We are making great efforts to put an end to recent events and I hope we will succeed," Noam Arnon, spokesperson for the Jewish settlement in Hebron said on Friday ahead of the reading of the 'Chayei Sarah' weekly portion (lit. 'The Life of Sarah,' Genesis 23:1-25:18).
Around noon heavy traffic was felt in Hebron and the surrounding areas. According to estimates, some 20,000 people are expected to spend Shabbat in the city.
Security forces have been preparing for the weekend since Thursday, and while the night passed without any irregular incidents, tensions between Hebron's right-wing activists and security forces in the area have been felt.
So far police have not received any reports from Palestinians of damage to property or violence.
Many tents were already set up in the Jewish settlement in the city and Shabbat will be spent in schools and public buildings that were opened up for the event.
"I hope Shabbat passes peacefully and is uplifting. A Shabbat that is passed with prayer and Torah reading, a Shabbat that will be a deep-rooted Jewish spiritual experience," Arnon told Ynet.
"We will try to forget the politics and try to make the best out of the Jewish experience," Arnon added. Following the past days' violent events in the city, Arnon said the residents ordered a number of youths to leave the place.
"We are making great efforts to put an end to these incidents and hope we will succeed. The things that were done were against the headquarters' decision and do not reflect the way in which the struggle's headquarters has decided to act," he added.
Restraining order issued against J'lem resident
Meanwhile Friday, Central Command Chief Gadi Shamni issued a four-month restraining order against a Jerusalem resident banning him from entering the West Bank. Defense establishment officials fear the man will cause a disturbance in the area.
In response to the move, the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel called for legal action against any person suspected of committing an offense and against whom there is concrete evidence. "A totalitarian regime's methods cannot be used in a democratic state," the Forum said in a statement.
The Shabbat of the "Chayei Sarah" Torah portion is one of the 10 days during which Jews are allowed to enter the Yitzhak hall at the Cave of the Patriarchs, which is the site's largest and most important hall.
Due to this event, tens of thousands of worshippers flock to the city every year.
Defense establishment officials fear that many of the visitors will remain in the area on the backdrop of the high tensions and in a bid to help thwart the evacuation of the disputed Hebron home.
According to estimates, after the prayers some of the worshippers, mainly youths, will try and remain at the disputed house as part of the settlers' preparations for a possible evacuation.
