'It's obvious we'll protect the soldiers'
Justice Ministry issues statement accepting full responsibility for actions by security forces should settlers choose to file civil suits against them
According to a joint statement by Justice Minster Tzipi Livne and Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz, the state will protect IDF soldiers and police during confrontation with settlers and anti-pullout supporters leading to and during the planned pullout from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.
This moves follows a civil suit filed by a group of West Bank settlers from the Yitzhar settlement against Samaria Brigade commander Yuval Bazak, for his participation in the evacuation of the illegal Shalhevet outpost.
“The justice system will take all appropriate steps and handle all suits, so that security forces will not be bothered by ‘phony claims’, the statement said.
In addition, one ministry official told Ynet the ministry would legally represent all security force personnel if faced with civil suits against them.
“It is obvious and was never a question of whether the ministry would or would not protect those who will have to deal with civil suits filed against them by settlers,” he said.
