Demolition, clashes and 'price tag' at West Bank outpost

Soldiers, police arriving in Ramat Migron to raze illegal structures confronted by stone-throwing settlers, who also attacked Palestinians; three Jews arrested. MK: PM appeasing Abbas

Yair Altman|Published: 10.13.10 , 14:50

Some 50 youngsters, some of them hooded, blocked the entrance of security forces to Ramat Migron on Wednesday.

Soldiers and police officers arrived at the West Bank outpost to demolish five illegal structures. During the ensuing clashes, which involved settlers, Palestinians and security forces, at least four people were lightly hurt by pepper spray and stones thrown by Palestinians.

Some of the settlers hurled rocks at security forces and set tires on fire at the entrance to the outpost.

In addition, dozens of Palestinians and Jews clashed after settlers implemented the 'price tag' policy, in which they seek revenge by attacking Palestinians for every outpost that is demolished. Three Jewish rioters were arrested in the incident.

In late September the Civil Administration confiscated a crane used to place new structures in Ramat Migron.

Earlier Wednesday, security forces razed six illegal structures in the Moaz Esther outpost.

In response to razing, Binyamin Settlers' Committee chairman Itzik Shadmi said, "Demolishing Jewish homes is (Defense Minister Ehud) Barak's way of escaping his political predicament. He cynically uses the army for his own purposes. It is a shame that rightist members of the coalition are letting this belligerent man continue serving as defense minister."

Knesset Member Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is once again pretending to enforce the law in order to appease (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas and (US President Barack) Obama, but this is about racism and conspiring against Jews while illegal Arab construction thrives."