6 Talmon settlers detained in clashes with police
Teenagers attempt to prevent inspectors enforcing construction freeze from entering settlement, violence ensues. Settler on police: They are animals; there is no other way to describe them
Clashes broke out Thursday morning between residents of the Talmon settlement and security forces accompanying Civil Administration inspectors tasked with enforcing the West Bank construction moratorium.
Six teens, including four minors, were arrested on suspicion of assaulting inspectors during the unrest. The teens also punctured the tire of a police squad car.
Several dozen teenagers gathered at the entrance to Talmon, located northwest of Jerusalem, in a failed attempt to prevent the inspectors from entering.
One of the settlers told Ynet that he had overheard the commander of the security forces instructing those under his command to "break their (settlers') bones."
According to the settler, officers beat children with bullhorns and threatened them with money wrenches. "They are animals; there is no other way to describe them," said the settler.
Also on Thursday, Israel Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen said that settler violence in protest against the West Bank settlement building freeze is "crossing the line."
"The severe increase in violence and resistance towards police and civil servants goes beyond the bounds of legitimate protest and freedom of expression," said Cohen at the police's weekly briefing.
Meanwhile, dozens of settlers clashed with police officers and Civil Administration inspectors in the settlement of Dolev as well. According to the residents who blocked the entrance to the community, the inspectors tried to break through its gates.
The Judea and Samaria District Police reported that "except for friction upon the inspectors' entrance to the community, the inspection was carried out peacefully without any riots or arrests."
Dolev spokeswoman Dr. Yael Areli said, "We stood on the road and resisted without violence, but with resolve. We blocked the place with cars and special forces broke through the security fence and moved the cars aside."
According to Areli, some 60 resident of the settlement passively resisted the inspectors' entrance to the site. "The forces destroyed the security elements of Jews in order to place an illegal and immoral note on the lot. Every two weeks some inspector comes here and walks around with dozens of cops around him, it's ridiculous and sad at the same time."
Daniel Edelson contributed to the report
