Hebron settlers say will spend Shabbat at evicted house

Settler leader Matar says force exerted against barricaded rightists 'should have been used to free Shalit'; vows to return to disputed house 'by tomorrow'

Meital Yasur-Beit Or
Published: 12.04.08, 21:36 / Israel News

"God willing, we'll return (to the evicted house). After I get out of the hospital we'll set up a new encampment there," said Shlomo Levinger, considered the "father" of the Jewish settlement in Hebron.

Levinger, the son of prominent rabbi Moshe Levinger, was injured during Thursday's swift evacuation of barricaded rightists from the disputed house in the West Bank city. He was admitted to Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center in light condition. The Palestinian

Enforcement

Hebron evacuation completed within hour / Efrat Weiss

(Video) Security forces take settlers by surprise as they storm disputed Hebron house in broad daylight, remove activists barricaded inside. MDA reports about 20 people injured in clashes. In response, right-wing activists clash with police at entrance to Jerusalem; 20 arrested

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s said dozens were injured during confrontations with settlers throughout the West Bank.

"I took my wife and son out of the house, and then a Border Guard officer grabbed me and threw me to the ground," Levinger recounted. "We raised our hands to indicate that we were not planning on hurling stones, but the officers suddenly whipped out their clubs and began to hit our knees. I fell and screamed. I was also struck in the back and chest.

"God willing, we'll return (to the disputed house) today after I am released from the hospital and set up a new encampment," he said, adding "the house was purchased legally, and the IDF generals said the matter should be resolved in a court of law. Defense Minister Ehud Barak is taking advantage of the High Court's rulings for his own political purposes."

Rioting in Hebron (Photo: Dudi Vaaknin)

Right-wing activist Nadia Matar was also admitted to Shaare Zedek after sustaining light to moderate wounds during the evacuation.

"The large security forces attacked us with clubs, tear gas and rubber bullets, when our only crime was our love for the Land of Israel," she said.

"During the events I could only think of (kidnapped IDF soldier) Gilad Shalit. Had the defense minister exerted the force we witnessed today to free him, Gilad would have been with us today. All the people of Israel are invited to spend the Shabbat at the (disputed house). We are preparing to return there. We'll be back by tomorrow."

Meanwhile, IDF Central Command Chief Major-General Gadi Shamni signed a restraining order against Daniela Weiss, who led the right-wing activists' struggle over the disputed house. The order bans the former Kedumim Council head from entering the Judea district for a month.

Efrat Weiss contributed to the report

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