Settlers pepper-spray soldiers, IDF leaves Bat Ayin
Masked men assault Palestinian truck driver with bat, attack two soldiers guarding entrance to settlement in Gush Etzion. Suspects not yet found, IDF removes soldiers from settlement area
Settlers are suspected of assaulting two Israeli
soldiers and a Palestinian truck driver at the entrance to the settlement of Bat Ayin. The attackers, who were wearing masks, beat the trucker with a bat and sprayed the soldiers with pepper gas as they guarded the entrance to the settlement. The suspects fled the scene. In response to the serious incident, the IDF decided to remove soldiers from the Bat Ayin area until further notice.
The incident took place on Thursday afternoon when a Palestinian truck arrived carrying goods ordered by settlement residents. Masked vandals noted the Palestinian driver and attacked him, and pepper sprayed two soldiers who were nearby. Large forces of army and police were called to the scene and began searching for the suspects, but they have yet to be found.
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In response to the incident, the Central Command decided that until further notice, the IDF will not be sending soldiers into the Bat Ayin settlement, which is provided with permanent security by the defense missions of the IDF. Army officials said that they consider the incident very serious and expect legal authorities to prosecute the perpetrators.
This is not the first violent incident at Bat Ayin. Several months ago, unknown assailants attacked a group of travelers who visited the settlement because Arabs were among them.
Last year, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a Palestinian vehicle traveling near the settlement, wounding several of the car's passengers, including a child who was seriously injured. Three boys were arrested for the act, but they were later released.
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