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Violent Clashes during a Settlement Evacuation
Settlers torch Palestinian fields to disrupt Yitzhar outpost removal
By Amos Harel, Nadav Shragai and Moshe Reinfeld, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
Violent clashes erupted Thursday between settlers
and security forces as evacuation began of the
illegal outpost of Mitzpeh Yitzhar, adjacent to
the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, south of
Nablus.
Settlers ignited
Palestinian-owned wheat fields
and olive groves in the area in
an attempt to disrupt the
operation, which was the first
to remove an inhabited outpost.
Ten uninhabited outposts were
removed last week.
The hundreds of paratroopers and
police who managed to make their way to the
hilltop were armed only with the knives they
carried to remove the settlers' tents.
Hundreds of settlers turned back soldiers
attempting to take down the main tent located
in the center of the outpost, and hundreds more
settlers were reported to be making their way
to the site to join the resistence. Security
forces resumed their efforts at around 3 P.M.
to remove the outpost after halting it for a
few hours in the afternoon.
Four police officers and three settlers suffered
extremely ight injuries. Yesha Council leaders,
and Knesset members Uri Ariel and Arye Eldad
were currently at the outpost.
The army placed a closure on all settlements
near the Mitzpeh Yitzhar outpost and erected
roadblocks on area roads to prevent additional
settlers from joining the fray.
But settlers pushed aside many roadblocks in
order to reach the outpost, and set ignited
fields. Military vehicles encountered
difficulties arriving at Mitzpeh Yitzhar, due
to youths who placed obstacles as well as their
own bodies on roads and paths leading to the
outpost.
Settlers said that some of them had been
arrested.
Dozens of additional settlers from nearby
settlements arrived at the outpost during the
initial stages of the evacuation in order to
join the efforts to deter the security forces.
Yosi Peli, a settler from the nearby Yitzhar
settlement, said that despite the large
contingent of troops, the protesters remained
committed to retaining the outpost.
"This is our land, our home," he said. "Tomorrow
we will be here again on this hill or on other
hills."
According to Peli there had been minor
confrontations at the outpost which have left
two settlers injured.
Peli showed The Associated Press a list of rules
of engagement provided by the settlers council.
Demonstrators were advised to avoid violence
and to use passive resistance.
But, Peli said, "When someone is trying to take
you from your home it's difficult to know what
will be."
By Amos Harel, Nadav Shragai and Moshe Reinfeld, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
Violent clashes erupted Thursday between settlers
and security forces as evacuation began of the
illegal outpost of Mitzpeh Yitzhar, adjacent to
the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, south of
Nablus.
Settlers ignited
Palestinian-owned wheat fields
and olive groves in the area in
an attempt to disrupt the
operation, which was the first
to remove an inhabited outpost.
Ten uninhabited outposts were
removed last week.
The hundreds of paratroopers and
police who managed to make their way to the
hilltop were armed only with the knives they
carried to remove the settlers' tents.
Hundreds of settlers turned back soldiers
attempting to take down the main tent located
in the center of the outpost, and hundreds more
settlers were reported to be making their way
to the site to join the resistence. Security
forces resumed their efforts at around 3 P.M.
to remove the outpost after halting it for a
few hours in the afternoon.
Four police officers and three settlers suffered
extremely ight injuries. Yesha Council leaders,
and Knesset members Uri Ariel and Arye Eldad
were currently at the outpost.
The army placed a closure on all settlements
near the Mitzpeh Yitzhar outpost and erected
roadblocks on area roads to prevent additional
settlers from joining the fray.
But settlers pushed aside many roadblocks in
order to reach the outpost, and set ignited
fields. Military vehicles encountered
difficulties arriving at Mitzpeh Yitzhar, due
to youths who placed obstacles as well as their
own bodies on roads and paths leading to the
outpost.
Settlers said that some of them had been
arrested.
Dozens of additional settlers from nearby
settlements arrived at the outpost during the
initial stages of the evacuation in order to
join the efforts to deter the security forces.
Yosi Peli, a settler from the nearby Yitzhar
settlement, said that despite the large
contingent of troops, the protesters remained
committed to retaining the outpost.
"This is our land, our home," he said. "Tomorrow
we will be here again on this hill or on other
hills."
According to Peli there had been minor
confrontations at the outpost which have left
two settlers injured.
Peli showed The Associated Press a list of rules
of engagement provided by the settlers council.
Demonstrators were advised to avoid violence
and to use passive resistance.
But, Peli said, "When someone is trying to take
you from your home it's difficult to know what
will be."
More people are on the way to Itzhar. A bus and a few taxies filled with people left Jerusalem a few minutes ago.
An Israeli news site says that according to the Yesha Council, 4 Israeli soldiers refused to carry out the orders.
According to eyewitnesses from the area, the policemen do not wear their badges to avoid recognition and a possible lawsuit if they use excessive force.
This is not the first time they do it, during the evacuation of Havat Gilad a while ago, the same happened(with the badges).
it wouldn't have taught anyone anything, just increased the wish to take revenge, you know the kind
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