The White House and officials in the Trump administration and Congress are furious over the illegal encampment of Jewish Israelis on the edge of the West Bank village of Qusra and have demanded explanations from Israel. Administration officials told Israeli officials they were shocked by the violence in Qusra and asked what was behind it.
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Jewish Israelis in front of Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra
(Photo: Zain Jaafar/AFP)
IDF forces alongside Jewish Israelis in front of Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra
(Photo: Zain Jaafar / AFP)
In the U.S., difficult questions are being raised about whether there is anarchy in Israel, and how it is possible that the army is not preventing harm to Palestinians. The incident is especially embarrassing for Israel’s friends in the administration. Advisers to President Trump turned to Israel angrily for explainations.
The siege — and the battalion sent to the area
Two days ago, it was reported that the Tel Talpiot outpost has recently served as a “base” for establishing additional settlements in the area. One of them was built near Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra, and the presence of Jewish Israelis there led to tensions with them. Footage circulated from the area showed IDF soldiers praying alongside Israelis staying at the outpost.
“There is a siege on three houses. We cannot bring them food. The settlers cut off the electricity,” Qusra council head Abd al-Azim Wadi told ynet when the outpost was established. According to him, when the settlers arrived, council officials contacted security officials. “The first thing we did was call the Israeli police, and also the Palestinian civil and military coordination and liaison office. But no one did anything. Nothing. Unfortunately, nothing was done.”
Jewish Israelis lounge in outpost on outskirts of Qusra
(Photo: Qusra family)
IDF condemns but has not evacuated the encampments
The IDF addressed the issue for the first time Tuesday, but did not address the fact that the outpost had not been evacuated: “In recent weeks, several reports were received about Israeli civilians entering Palestinian homes and land in the area of the villages of Qusra and Jalud and taking control of them. This is illegal, disgraceful and unacceptable activity that harms the residents of the villages and the fabric of their lives. Following this, and in light of reports of disturbances in the area, a closed military zone order was imposed in the area for anyone who is not a local resident.”
Security forces arrived in the area Wednesday morning. The IDF spokesperson said they had evacuated the “shed,” but in the meantime additional extremists arrived in the area and began blocking the access roads with heavy rocks. Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth also arrived at the site. Clashes were reported with IDF and Border Police forces, and footage from the scene showed the Jews sitting on sofas and mattresses in the same place, without a shed.
Siege on homes of Qusra residents
(Photo: Residents of Qusra)
It was further claimed that the “shed” built near a house in Area B had been evacuated, and that forces were working to remove the civilians who had been staying there. “The incident is ongoing at this time, and security forces are in the field,” the statement said. “During the tour, the commanders viewed with severity the acts committed by Israeli civilians against the Palestinian family, and instructed that several steps be taken going forward. It was also decided that disciplinary action would be taken against the force involved that was documented at the site several days ago.”
Toward evening, the IDF issued a strangely worded statement saying Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had ordered forces “to prevent the continuation of the serious incidents” and “to reinforce the sector with another regular infantry battalion.” According to the IDF spokesperson: “The chief of staff held another situational assessment earlier today with the commander of Central Command, the head of the Operations Directorate and the head of the Operations Division regarding the incident taking place in the Qusra area. The chief of staff instructed the continuation of actions to strengthen order and operational control in the area, and to prevent the continuation of the serious incidents.”
The statement continued: “As part of this, he instructed that the sector be reinforced with another regular infantry battalion. The battalion, which is currently in a rest and refit period, will be dispatched to the sector in order to strengthen operational control. Additional forces will also be placed on standby for activation if needed. The activity is being carried out as a multiagency effort with Israel Police and the Shin Bet, with the aim of restoring order, maintaining security in the area and bringing the rioters to justice.”