Hebron: Rightists evacuated from Beit Shapira

Around midnight, some 10 right-wing youths entrench in house sealed by court order five years ago. Sixty Border Guard officers storm house, detain activists, reporters who were with them

Reuters | Published: 05.24.11, 08:30

Some 10 right-wing activists on Monday night broke into Beit Shapira in Hebron's Jewish settlement and refused to leave for several hours. Border Guard officers forced their way into the house and detained several of them for questioning, including reporters that were with them.

The intrusion into Beit Shapira, which was evacuated by a court order in June 2006, was organized by a group of young right-wing activists who call themselves "Hilltop Youth".

On Monday, group members attempted to set up a new agricultural farm in contentious E1 area, at the Gaon Hayarden outpost near Ma'aleh Adumim, in an apparent bid to provoke and embarrass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prior to his scheduled speech in Washington.

The activists planned at first to break into the house of contention in Hebron, but after police forces deployed in the area, they decided to enter Beit Shapira instead. The group entered the house through a small side window around midnight between Monday and Tuesday, and fortified in one of the rooms.

Border Guard officers at entrance to house. (Photo: Yair Altman)

Approximately at 1:30 am, some 60 Border Guard officers stormed the house. The activists responded by hurling empty plastic bottles, water and other un-harmful objects at the officers.

After entering the house, the officers came across an iron door that was blocked by the activists. After approximately half an hour, the forces managed to barge through the door and detain the group, including right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir and several reporters that were in the house with them.

Before the arrest, Ben-Gvir told Ynet, "Obama and Netanyahu can continue chattering, but the ones who set the facts on the ground are these dear boys right here."