Day after clashes: Hebron too quiet
Security forces on high alert as air in West Bank city remains peaceful day after riots following successful evacuation of disputed house. 'We'll choose the time to respond, and return to house,' says settler; Palestinian farmers say they are afraid to leave home
The day after the evacuation of the disputed house in Hebron, which came with violent clashes and riots, security forces were heavily deployed throughout the city. Hebron however, remained suspiciously too quiet.
"We will choose the timing and the hour to respond," a right-wing activist in the city told Ynet. "In the game between cat and mouse, the mouse, who is smaller and more nimble, always wins and knows every tunnel and hole."
"They can stay here in reinforced numbers for a day, two days, a week… but we will respond in the timing and in the way that we see fit, and we will return to the peace house."
The security forces on Friday allowed the residents evacuated from the disputed house to collect their belongings. Large Border Guard forces deployed around the building in order to prevent right-wing activists from breaking into the house.
Also Friday, Judea and Samaria Division Commander Brigadier-General Noam Tibon spoke with Civil Administration head Yoav Mordechai and heads of the Palestinian security organizations at the Judea and Samaria Division headquarters in Beit El.
It was agreed in the meeting that all sides would work to calm the situation and prevent violence and uphold public order in the West Bank. Military representatives accompanied by Civil Administration officers have begun going from house to house in the area around the disputed house to collect testimonies from Palestinians regarding damage caused to their property.
House inhabitants collect their belongings (Photo: Dudi Vaaknin)
Hebron settler official Orit Struck rejected claims made against the rioting settlers, saying, "Everything has been completely blown out of proportion. Each and every day the Arabs throw stones here, desecrate Jewish graves.
"The Arab Hebron did not heat up because of the peace house. The one who set the fire in Hebron was Ehud Barak, with his irresponsible actions that began with allowing armed Palestinian officers to enter and provoke during the brutal destruction of the Federman farm, and now this evacuation."
According to Struck, images displaying settlers firing gunshots at Arabs were "edited", and she said, "The Jewish youth who is still unconscious because an Arab crushed his skull and is still free. Why hasn't anyone arrested that Arab yet?"
'Evacuation a slap in the face'
Much of the settlers' anger stems from the fact that the defense establishment ignored talks regarding the future of the disputed house and took settlers by surprise."It's a shame that the heads of the governmental establishment allow themselves to wear out the little trust the settlers have in the defense," said Struck. "This was a despicable crime on the part of the defense minister."
Noam Arnon, spokesman for the Jewish settlement in Hebron, called the incident "a slap on the face of the worst kind. It was worse than a spit in the face. Barak took advantage of the fact that we were holding open talks and replaced them with a violent, forceful and provocative act.
"With great difficulty we were able to set up a framework with the youth in the peace house. This has ruined all chances of us being able to do so in the future, and things have spun completely out of control. In the future, when they ask us, 'Why can't you control the youths?' they should asked themselves that."
Arnon presents the settlement's goal as "the salvation of Jewish property", and says that the American Jew that donated money to buy the disputed house told him on Thursday that he wanted to buy another house.
"Anyone that wanted to destroy the house will get another one, and more," Arnon said.
Before being arrested by the Border Guard for calling an officer "garbage", extreme right-winger Itamar Ben-Gvir said, "We respect the leadership of the settlement, but people should understand that the State of Israel has rightfully earned these events and they will have consequences."
During his investigation Ben-Gvir claimed that his comments were in response to being physically attacked by a Border Guard officer.He was released several hours later.
Meanwhile, in east Jerusalem, clashes broke out between dozens of Arab youths and police officers at Via Dolorosa Friday afternoon.
Two youths were detained after trying to enter the Old City by force and police dispersed the crowd.
'Police, army always support settlers'
Meanwhile 40-year old Hosni Sa'afin and his father, 65-year old Abed al-Khai, are still hospitalized after being seriously injured by gunshots fired by settlers during the clashes Thursday.
Palestinian children in Hebron (Photo: AP)
Jamal Sa'afin, who documented the incident, told Ynet his family had not yet recovered from the riots. "For seven days we have been going through the same nightmare. Yesterday was the peak, but mostly it was so obvious because it was covered by the media. Generally we experience the same events every night," he said.
Jamal recounted the details as he waited outside the Kiryat Arba police station, to give his account to the police and to deliver the tape he had filmed.
"Despite the tape, which clearly shows the settler firing, we aren't very optimistic about the police investigation," he said. "We have complained dozens of times and I can say that the police and army are always for the settlers and against us."
Halifa Da'ana, whose house near the Federman Farm outpost in Hebron was torched by settlers on Thursday, was also pessimistic about receiving justice at the hands of security forces.
He told Ynet that for several hours, while settlers set fire to his home and fields and threw stones, not a single soldier or officer arrived to protect his five children. "When I called the Civil Administration an officer yelled at me and said I was bugging them," he said.
"Neither I nor my children can leave the house now. We can't walk for more than a few dozen meters around the fields, because at any moment settlers could attack the house."
Da'ana added: "What amazes me is that these days, in contrast to the past, the army and police don't even bother to send a patrol car to try to disrupt the settlers' rioting." He finished his statement and said he had to hang up the phone, as he saw a settler vehicle approaching and needed to prepare himself for another attack.
Ali Waked contributed to this report
