13 settlers arrested during outpost evacuation
Security forces arrive at Mitzpe Ami with closed military zone order. Settlers refuse to leave, leading to arrests. In response, they set fire to Palestinian field
The forces arrived at the outpost in the early morning hours and presented the settlers with a closed military zone order. After they refused to leave, the security forces arrested 13 people and handed them over to the police.
A Palestinian fire-fighters carrier was dispatched to the area to put off the fire started by the settlers.
The torched orchard belongs to a family from the village of Kadum. Palestinians reported that no major damage had been caused.
The Palestinians expressed their surprise over the weekend at the fact that soldiers and policemen had secured a ceremony in an area slated to be evacuated and declared an illegal outpost. Shortly after the end of the ceremony, the evacuation began.
The settlers released a statement in response to Sunday's evacuation, saying that "we will not be deterred by the army and police's disturbances and will continue to settle the place."
The outpost, located near the settlement of Kedumim, was set up in August. Some 30 right-wing activists went up to Mitzpe Ami, and after most of them were evacuated, several remained on the hill.
At the beginning of the week, Border Guard fighters started a fire in a caravan in the Havat Shaked outpost near the settlement of Yitzhar, apparently accidentally. According to Yitzhr residents, the fighters were securing the olive picking in the area.
The Border Guard said in response that several officers had entered an abandoned caravan after it began raining, and apparently started a fire after lighting a cigarette. An investigation has been launched into the incident.
Ali Waked contributed to this report
