Livni: Radical Right promotes violence against soldiers

Hatnua, Kadima chairs slams clash between Border Guard officers, settlers during botched eviction of Oz Zion outpost. Mofaz: Assailants belong in jail

Moran Azulay|Published: 12.29.12 , 13:22

Hatnua Chairwoman Tzipi Livni leveled harsh criticism at Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett Saturday, saying his political rhetoric led to the clash between IDF forces and settlers in the illegal West Bank outpost of Oz Zion, in the Beit El area, on Friday.

Border Guard officers who arrived at Oz Zion to execute eviction orders were attacked by the settlers and five of them were lightly hurt. The settlers also slashed the tires of two military vehicles; effectively thwarting the eviction.

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Some among the Settlement Movement later boasted that they were able "To pull ministerial strings" to foil the eviction.

"Bennett and the radical rabbis deliberately led people to that hill with the intention of provoking a clash with IDF soldiers and creating a situation where soldiers may refuse orders," she said.

Speaking at a gathering in Haifa, she added that "These radical elements led people there on Friday evening, knowing that our children – IDF soldiers – would have to remove them.

"Netanyahu, who continues to court the radical right and his natural partners, halted the eviction, because as far as he and his radical partners are concerned everything can be desecrated by Shabbat."

Livni concluded: "They are provoking such clashes to later justify that they can’t follow orders."

Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz also condemned the clash between settlers and IDF forces, saying that "The radical election rhetoric used by the Right bolsters the motivation to use violence against IDF soldiers.

"Anyone raising a hand against IDF soldiers has raised his hands against the State and must be jailed. We have to pursue this to the full extent of the law."