Settlers arrested during WB demolitions
Security forces arrive in Shavei Shomron to demolish six structures they say were built after construction freeze. Enraged setters call operation 'intentional scheme meant to ignite area'
IDF forces and Civil Administration inspectors began demolishing six structures built in the Shavei Shomron settlement in violation of the settlement freeze. Residents of the community responded with fury: "The State continues to harm the settlement enterprise."
Palestinians living in the surrounding area expressed concerns that the settlers may carry out "price tag" reprisals against them.
The settlers said construction began roughly one month before the construction freeze order was implemented, and called Monday's demolition "an intentional scheme on the part of the administration and the military, who wish to ignite the area."
A large group of settlers tried to attack officers as they left the community. Two rioters were detained, one on suspicion of assaulting an officer and the other on suspicion of disrupting police work. The settlers in the area vowed to "continue coming to the area in protest of this crime."
Razing buildings in Shavei Shomron (Photo: Courtesy of the Samaria Settlers' Committee)
The Samaria Settlers Committee said in response: "Several months ago, orders were issued against the residents, but they petitioned and the matter was put on hold. It is being appealed. Despite this, the forces employed violence and refused to listen to the residents, or the community's rabbi, Yehoshua Schmidt, who appealed to them with a demand to stop the demolition. This is criminal activity at its best, which is being carried out with disregard to the law."
Last week, Civil Administration inspectors and security forces in the West Bank demolished structures constructed after the freeze order entered effect. Settlers from Maoz Ester were aware of the forces' plans after National Union MK Michael Ben-Ari published a statement in the matter.
Forces simultaneously arrived at the Baal Hazor settlement, where they bulldozed a structure. The forces were met with fierce resistance in the Ramat Migron settlement, where residents barricaded themselves on the roof of a structure and two young women refused to evacuate one of the four houses demolished.
Forces evacuated the women and extinguished burning tires, which were set ablaze by the residents in protest of the demolitions.
The final location of last week's demolition operation was the "Beit Obama" outpost, built next to Kochav Yaakov, where settlers said the response to the operation would be "full-force construction in all parts of Israel. We will make it clear to Barak that we will continue to settle."
