Security forces arrived overnight between Wednesday and Thursday to evacuate the outpost established near Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra, which has left several Palestinian families trapped for four days. The failure to evacuate the outpost for such a long period sparked outrage in the international community and even led to a sharp American statement in which U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described those who established the outpost as “Israeli terrorists” and called on the state to “remove them” from the site.
Hilltop activist Elisha Yered wrote that “Border Police officers raided three settlement points in Binyamin and Samaria overnight together with Civil Administration inspectors and destroyed them.” According to him, among other things, they “sowed destruction throughout the entire hilltop and confiscated everything they saw, including blankets, mattresses and electrical appliances.”
IDF forces arrive in Qusra overnight
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However, Qusra council head Abd al-Azim Wadi said the outpost had still not been evacuated, and that large military forces were present at the site, both in the village and on the hill. According to him, the Civil Administration said the extremists would likely be removed from the area for good later Thursday, and asked residents to avoid “unnecessary vehicle movement inside the village.”
The White House and officials in the U.S. administration and Congress were furious over the incident in Qusra and demanded explanations from Israel. Administration officials told Israeli officials they were shocked by the incident and asked what was behind it. One of the besieged homes is owned by an American citizen who lives in Ohio. He told ynet that he had also contacted Congress about the matter, and described severe violence that settlers had previously used against his family.
IDF forces arrive in Qusra overnight
(Video: Section 27A of the Copyright Law)
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also addressed the issue. According to him, the claim that the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem is not involved in the events is incorrect. “The IDF and police came at our request to remove the Israeli terrorists who are doing this,” he said. "The actions of those doing this to this family’s home is criminal. The WH hasn’t 'intervened' because we have kept DC apprised of the situation already. Actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass this family are disgusting. No excuse for such thuggish behavior.”
Huckabee is an outspoken supporter of Israel, and has repeatedly declared in the past that “Judea and Samaria are an inseparable part of the State of Israel and everyone needs to understand that. Anyone running for U.S. president should visit here.” His sharp statement shows the extent to which the Qusra affair is causing Israel diplomatic damage in the U.S. and around the world, as many wonder how it is possible that security forces have still not removed the extremists who established an illegal outpost near the homes of several Palestinian families.
This report includes videos and photos under Section 27A of Israel’s Copyright Law.