Gilad Farm outpost (archives)
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
IDF says settlers threw firebomb at military jeep
Military claims incident took place as security forces entered Gilad Farm outpost on Sunday to confiscate truck, but local settler says, 'We all serve in the army'; officers aboard jeep were not hurt
The IDF Spokesperson's Office said settlers threw a Molotov cocktail at a Border Guard patrol jeep during Sunday's clashes with security forces at the West Bank outpost Gilad Farm.
No Border Guard officers were injured from the Molotov cocktail, and a fire that erupted at the scene was quickly extinguished.
IDF sources said Tuesday that a number of settler teens were seen fleeing the scene, but a resident of Gilad Farm denied the allegations.
"I can say with absolute certainty that the act (firebomb) was not carried out by a Gilad Farm settler," said local Itai Zar, "I know all the residents personally; they all serve in the army or perform reserve duty."
One officer sustained mild injuries during the clashes, which erupted when security forces arrived at the outpost after a caravan inside the compound was moved. The forces sought to confiscate the truck which had moved the caravan.
Three settlers were detained for questioning during the clashes on suspicion of assaulting police officers. The outpost residents claimed that the police had violently attacked the settlers, some of them not wearing their badges.
On Tuesday several dozen settlers from the illegal West Bank outpost of Horsha rallied outside Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's home in the settlement of Nokdim.
The settlers were protesting the High Court's decision to evict the area. Police and Border Guard forces were called to the scene; the rally dispersed uneventfully.
