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Border Guard officer during one of the protests

Settler video shows Border Guard tossing stun grenade in clash

(Video) Samaria Settlers' Committee releases clip showing small portion of clash with Border Guard, says it proves security forces were violent. Border Guard rejects claims, says settlers 'crossed red lines'

VIDEO - Following the clash that broke out Monday night between settlers and Border Guard officers during a protest against the demolition of houses in the illegal outpost Givat Ronen, the Samaria Settlers' Committee published a video on Tuesday that caught one of the officers throwing a stun grenade.

 

The committee says the video is proof of the settlers' claims of violence used by the security forces. The Border Guard rejects the claims and said the settlers "crossed red lines."

 

Demonstrations were held at 15 main intersections in the West Bank against the demolition of buildings in the outpost Givat Ronen, near Har Bracha. The protests, organized by the Samaria Settlers' Committee and the Binyamin Settlers' Committee, were run under the title "Mutual Guarantee" and were attended by hundreds of right-wing activists.

 

The most prominent clash between the settler protesters and the security forces took place at Shavei Shomron junction. The Border Guard reported that one officer sustained light injuries to his hand, while the settlers claimed that a number of people in their ranks were also injured in the incident. During the clashes, an officer threw a stun grenade into the crowd of protesters, riling them considerably.

 

Following the melee, the two sides accused each other of being violent. The Border Guard said the officers asked the settlers to move off the thoroughfare, and when they refused, started evacuating them. The Border Guard officers claimed they were attacked with kicks and punches, and, in response, one of the officers threw a stun grenade into the crowd in order to disperse them.

 

On the other hand, the settlers pointed fingers at the Border Guard with claims of violence. They claimed that they merely stood and prayed at the intersection. When they finished their prayers, they asked to remain another few minutes on the street, but, they claim, the Border Guard refused to grant them their request and asked them to leave.

 

The settlers testified that the Border Guard then proceeded to evacuate them with brutality, even throwing a stun grenade "in the direction of a mother standing with her small daughter on the road's shoulder and town rabbi and Shavei Shomron Hesder Yeshiva head, Rabbi Yehoshua Schmidt."

 

'Border Guard igniting area in vain'

In light of the opposing accounts, the Samaria Settlers' Council uploaded a video to YouTube documenting the incident. Committee members claim the video proves the deceitfulness of the Border Guard's version of events by showing the violence employed against the protesters.

 

Physical clashes can be seen in the video, including the moment the stun grenade was thrown and the ensuing fracas. It should be noted, however, that the video shows only a short segment from the incident.

 

"The Border Guard Spokesperson is just as verbally abusive as Border Guard officers are physically abusive," reported the committee. "Certain officials only allow themselves to lie about and sully settlers, even in the face of clear-cut facts. The video reveals a severe and harsh picture of criminal violence and irresponsibility on the part of the Border Guard officer.

 

"Officers of this sort are not fit to serve in the uniform of the Israel Police, and they certainly should not serve in this zone because they ignite the area in vain. This is not the first time these types of things in the Judea and Samaria region Border Guard. The Police and the Border Guard must thoroughly inspect their ranks."

 

The Border Guard flatly rejected the settlers' claims, and said the settlers' behavior amounted to much more than "just a few pushes and shoves."

 

The Border Guard explained that the prevailing presumption in the highest ranks of the organization is that "red lines were crossed" by the settlers and that silence should not be maintained regarding the settlers' response to being evacuated from the road.

 

The Border Guard said that one officer was injured on his arm during the clash and that they "condemn the settlers' behavior."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.27.10, 15:03
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