19 rightists arrested on way to Jericho
Security forces prevent Hilltop Youth from praying in West Bank city. 'Jewish presence in the synagogues there must be renewed,' group's leader says
The security forces on Friday afternoon prevented 19 Hilltop Youth members from reaching two synagogues in the West Bank city of Jericho. The Israel Defense Forces and Judea and Samaria Police set up barriers on the roads leading to the Palestinian city and detained the right-wing activists for questioning on suspicion of trying to enter Area A.
Twenty-one activists making their way to the city from others directions, through open areas and Jewish communities, were not arrested. The IDF declared the entrance to Jericho and its surroundings a closed military zone.
One of Hilltop Youth's leaders, Meir Bartler, told Ynet about the activity's goal. "We are demanding a renewal of the Jewish presence in the synagogue and are conveying a clear message to the army and to the government on our right to settle anywhere in the State of Israel," he explained.
IDF: This is a provocation
Bartler stressed that Israeli access to the synagogues was mentioned in the Oslo Accords, and that these places were deserted in 2000 in the middle of the al-Aqsa Intifada, for security reasons.
"Now that the security-related situation is better, there is no reason not to renew the Jewish presence there," he argued. "We will continue this activity. We won't rest and won't keep silent until Israel regains control of those areas. If the army and government don’t understand that, we're here to remind them."
IDF declares closed military zone (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Hilltop Youth members have been struggling for Israel to regain control of the Jericho synagogues for the past year. Hundreds of teens affiliates with the movement have joined a new body which organizes small delegations to the synagogues on a weekly basis, without coordinating the visits with the security forces. This week's activity included dozens of youths from all across Judea and Samaria.
Sources in the group told Ynet that Shin Bet officials had tried to convince them not to enter Jericho on Friday. They provided a recording of a person warning them that anyone trying to enter the Palestinian city would be arrested on the spot.
A defense establishment source told Ynet that the IDF and Palestinian Authority officials had ah agreement that in the event of Israelis' entry to the synagogues, the army would be in charge of removing the Israelis in order to avoid clashes with the Palestinian police.
The Judea and Samaria Police and the IDF said they were aware of the Israelis' plan to reach the synagogues and had prepared to stop them. A military source stressed that Israelis are allowed to enter one of the synagogues in coordination with the IDF, and so the uncoordinated attempts are being viewed as a provocation.
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