West Bank demolitions prompt riots, arrests, 'price tag' missions

Civil Administration's razing of two caravans, goat pen in Givat Ronen leads settlers to crowd near Burin village, clash with Palestinians, who respond by hurling stones. One Palestinian injured, four settlers wounded

Aviel Magnezi|Published: 07.26.10 , 10:33

Civil Administration forces demolished two illegal caravans and a goat pen on Monday which were built in Givat Ronen in the West Bank in violation of freeze orders. The razing was accompanied by riots leading to the arrest of two settlers. Three others were detained for questioning. The settlers claimed that security forces acted brutally using excessive force.

Following the demolition, the settlers embarked on a "price tag" mission involving protests, the blocking of roads and an attempt to torch an open field.

The Palestinians, meanwhile reported that a Burin village resident was injured after dozens of settlers attacked the village, apparently as part of revenge for the Givat Ronen razing.

Givat Ronen demolition scene (Photo: Shimshon Sochi, Shomron Settlers' Committee)

According to the report, the settlers tried breaking through the Hawara checkpoint, which had been closed to prevent their entry into Palestinian territory.

The clashes quickly escalated with Palestinians responding by hurling stones. Four settlers were injured during the clashes, One settler, a 30-year-old man, sustained serious head wounds and was rushed to the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva for treatment. The rest were lightly injured, and one of them was evacuated to Schneider Medical Center while the others were treated on the spot.

Civil Administration head Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai contacted Palestinian officials in an attempt to convey a calming message.

. The rest were lightly injured and treated at the spot.

Two caravans razed (Photo: Shimshon Sochi, Shomron Settlers' Committee)

The settlers, on their part, claimed that security forces had demolished a home worth hundreds of thousands of shekels built by a young couple.

Har Bracha secretary Yisrael Saadia, who was present during the demolition, told Ynet of the violence exorcised by the security forces. "A bunch of special unit officers came hitting women and children and anyone who stood in their way. Guys who were on the floor continued getting beat up," he claimed.

Shomron Regional Council Head Gershon Mesika noted, "This isn't Barak. It’s Netanyahu. He's the one behind the useless and despicable demolition of a house built by a young couple who spent all their savings on it, while hundreds of illegal Arab houses are being built in the neighboring villages. We shall rebuild the house."