IDF nixes security at Ramat Gilad over soldiers' harassment
Military pulls force stationed at illegal West Bank outpost after settlers verbally harass five female soldiers; residents said to be handling security independently
IDF forces are no longer securing the Ramat Gilad outpost, Ynet learned Thursday.
The GOC Central Command has decided to stop securing the illegal West Bank outpost, which is scheduled for eviction, following the harassment of several female soldiers by the settlers.
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According to the military, five female soldiers stationed with the force securing the area were seriously harassed during the riot that took place at the Ephraim Spatial Brigade on Tuesday. The brigade commander and his deputy were both injured in the riot.
Ramat Gilad was secured by the IDF as part of its routine community protection deployment in the area. Once the force was pulled out, the outpost's 10 families began handling their security independently.
On their own? Ramat Gilad (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
An IDF Spokesperson’s statement said: "During the events that took place at the Ephraim Brigade, several female soldiers on active protection duty were verbally harassed by settlers in Ramat Gilad. The IDF views this incident gravely and has decided to pull the military force from the area pending further notice.
"Such acts against IDF soldiers distract them from their main operational objective, which is defending the citizens of Israel."
The military is also considering revising the soldiers' engagement protocols with the settlers. The IDF is reviewing its fire procedures in the area. Incidents where settlers place IDF soldiers' lives at risk – such as when soldiers are stoned – may meet live fire in the future, the military said.
A military source privy to the discussions told Ynet that "a soldier can't be baffled by a Jew threatening to throw a block at his head… The term 'sensitive determination' should be stricken from our lexicon, as should the term 'price tag.' This is nothing but outright terror."
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