Settlers' assault of Druze troops to be probed

Internal security minister appeals to police commissioner following military complaints reported by Ynet. Yesha Council condemns acts, settlers call accusations 'a blood libel'

Shmulik Grossman |Published: 07.11.10 , 13:39

Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch on Sunday urged Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen to launch an immediate investigation against settlers suspected of verbally assaulting and humiliating Druze soldiers enforcing the construction freeze in West Bank settlements, following military complaints reported by Ynet.

The minister wrote to the police chief that "if the suspicions turn out to be true, this is an absolute disgrace."

Initial Report

'Settlers harass Druze soldiers'

Hanan Greenberg

Military source says Druze troops enforcing construction freeze suffer curses, humiliation. 'We also heard things like, 'They should be sent back in trains,' source says

'Settlers harass Druze soldiers'

He added, "The security forces, who risk their lives in different areas across the country, should be backed and supported rather than suffer such a disgrace… If the suspicions prove to be true, they must be brought to justice shortly."

According to the minister, the expressions used against the Druze soldiers were "unthinkable" and aimed at degrading a community which has contributed to the State in an exemplary manner. "I vow to continue backing the police officers and soldiers, who engage in holy work," he clarified.

'Nasty attempt to create hatred'

The Yesha Council, the umbrella group of settlers' organizations, rushed to condemn the acts, expressing support for the Druze Border Guard officers, "who make an important contribution to the security of Israel in general and to the security of the West Bank in particular."

The Council said in a statement, "We have not forgotten for one minute that many Druze soldiers and policemen have given their life while defending the State, and they have our deep gratitude for that."

Council officials slammed any attempt to humiliate the fighters, saying that any case in which a Jew insulted a Druze soldier or policeman "should be condemned by all means, and is not representative."

The Samaria Settlers' Committee, on the other hand, blasted Minister Aharonovitch. "It's unfortunate that he falls for distorted and false reports without checking the facts," one of the settlers said.

"We scornfully reject the incitement campaign run by an anonymous media-military source in the Samaria region, who is literally creating a blood libel, and not for the first time. No one has acted against Druze soldiers in any way."

A senior committee official said that although he did not know who published the leaflet against the soldiers, a simple review of the letter showed that it did not even mention Druze soldiers or policemen.

"Leaflets in the style of 'Arab policeman with the Arabs, Jewish soldier with the Jews' have been published almost two years ago after the Yom Kippur events in Akko and the claims that local police had failed to engage in prevention activity. These notices were distributed across the country, and cannot be related to Samaria in any way."

Any attempt to view the leaflet as an attack on Druze soldiers was "nasty" and clear incitement, the source concluded. "It's unfortunate that during such a sensitive period, there are media-military sources in the Samaria district who are repeatedly trying to create hatred and separation between the settlements and the IDF."