Settlers, security forces clash in Hebron

[Scurrilous]

Hundreds of settlers hurl stones at houses of Palestinians, hit officer who arrives to evacuate them; earlier, army prevents 200 settlers from breaking into city's ancient quarter

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3200187,00.html

<snip>

"An IDF soldier was lightly wounded after being hit in his eye by a stone hurled by settlers Saturday afternoon in the West Bank city of Hebron.

Saturday marked the third day of riots by settlers against security forces and Palestinians in the city, in light of the plan to evacuate Hebron's wholesale market."

<snip>

"About 150 settlers began throwing stones at houses of Palestinians in a Hebron neighborhood. Army and police forces arrived at the area, but the settlers continued with the stoning."

<snip>

"Five Israelis were detained in Hebron Friday night following riots that took place in the city. In the first incident, two men were arrested on suspicion of hurling stones at a police vehicle."

<snip>

"In the second incident, three female teenagers were arrested after breaking into a shop belonging to a Palestinians near the Jewish settlement in Hebron. Border Guard officers were forced to evacuate the girls.

During the riots, settlers set fire to a house near the Cave of the Patriarchs, four days after its Palestinian residents abandoned it. Palestinian fire fighters who arrived in the area were stoned."

[Tom Joad]

1. This has been going on for decades. Attacks on Israeli military are rare

though. So is any intervention by the Israeli military when the settlers attack Palestinians.

Settlers have been allowed to settle in the West Bank, despite all the international law* (and even common sense) to the contrary. They provoke Palestinians, making their lives miserable. This in turn creates more violence all the way around.

By the way, Christian Peace Teams, now famous for their work in the Middle East, have been documenting settler violence for a long time. See http://cpt.org/hebron/hebron.php

Sadly, there is nothing new about the violence, and given the education these folks receive, it is to be expected.

See this post http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x111616
for info from Human Rights Watch and expanding settlements, and a short discussion of international law.

[Scurrilous]

2. IDF officer: Settlers gave Nazi salute

Second lieutenant wounded by settlers in Hebron tells Ynet about unpleasant experience; we tried to talk to them but they ran towards Arabs and started beating them up, he says. 'Youths told us they don't speak German'. Meanwhile, Hebron riots resume, police to boost presence

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3200503,00.html

<snip>

"Some of the settlers who rioted in the West Bank town of Hebron over the weekend gave IDF soldiers the Nazi salute, an officer who was wounded during the riots told Ynet on Sunday.

"This is sad more than it's scary," said Second Lieutenant Ariel Nussbacher, who sustained eye injures after settlers hurled stones at troops."

<snip>

"Settlers walked in the direction of Hebron's Old City, claiming they make the trip every Saturday, but stoned Palestinians on the way, Nussbacher said.

"At first they were 40, but then about 300, most of them teenagers. At first we attempted to maintain restraint, we tried to talk to them, but they run towards Arabs in every alley and started beating them up," the IDF officer said.

"We attempted to speak to the girls…but they told us 'we don't speak German. You came to protect us and you're protecting the Arabs. We'll never join the Israel Expulsion Forces," Nussbacher said. "Some gave us the Heil Hitler salute."

[Scurrilous]

3. IDF says may impose closure on Jewish areas in Hebron

<snip>

"Following several days of settler unrest in the West Bank city of Hebron that came to an end Sunday evening, senior military sources warned that "if the situation doesn't improve we will have to declare the Jewish neighborhoods in Hebron a closed military zone."

The settlers clashed with security forces for several days over a court order to evict eight Jewish families that have occupied Palestinian-owned stores in the Hebron marketplace.

The calm was restored after hundreds of police officers, some on horseback, streamed into the West Bank city earlier in the day, and arrested eight settlers.

According to the military sources, the events of the last few days do not signal an escalation of tensions in the city, but rather a completely new situation where people challenge the very existence of the state and the rule of law.

If the serious violence continues, they said, there will be no choice but to apply much harsher judicial steps against those involved."

more

[Wordie]

4. One can't help but ask...what took them so long?

The takeover of the settlers of the Hebron market took place years ago. The illegal Jewish settlers set up shop in the stores that belonged to Palestinians, who during all that long time have been without a way of earning their living.

And lest one applaud too loudly for the IDF's belated action, it is important to note that Israel has withdrawn its lease agreement for the market with the city, throwing the status of the market into question anyway. So the IDF may remove the squatters, but it appears that will be of little use to the Palestinians who were harmed by their actions.

[Scurrilous]

5. Challenge of the Hebron hooligans

<snip>

"Yesterday's unrestrained rioting by Hebron settlers provided yet more unneeded proof of a well-known reality: Hebron is outside the control of the government of Israel and the rule of law, and is an enclave of hooliganism that receives protection from the Israel Defense Forces, but is unwilling to obey its orders. As a direct continuation of the rampage that accompanied the police's attempt two weeks ago to issue evacuation orders to settlers living in Hebron's vegetable market - an incident in which officers and soldiers were injured by stones and eggs hurled at them - yesterday, too, the settlers decided to make it clear to the army and the government who really controls the area. Stones were thrown, the houses of Arab residents of Hebron were attacked, one Palestinian house was torched. Yet of the hundreds of rioters, only a few were arrested.

Ridding Hebron's vegetable market of the settlers who have squatted there is a commitment that the government made to the High Court of Justice, one that was supposed to be implemented in full yesterday. It is not clear why the government decided to postpone the evacuation, or why it suddenly announced its intention of evacuating three additional outposts when, in confronting the heart of the problem - Hebron - it is continuing to demonstrate consistent helplessness.

There is no doubt that yesterday's rioting was intended to present Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with the demand that the settlers in general, and the settlers of Hebron in particular, present to every prime minister, and in effect to every government: Leave the extremist enclave in Hebron outside the realm of any law. There can also be no doubt that the Hebron settlers, backed by the Yesha Council of settlements, which has not yet even bothered to denounce the rioting, are seeking from now on to wage a war to restore the settlers' "honor" - "honor" that in their view was lost during the disengagement from Gaza. It is sufficient to examine the statements of a few settler leaders to understand that the struggle is not only over the question of who is stronger and more aggressive, but over how to obscure the success of the disengagement from Gaza by standing firm against the government in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The settlers' goal, therefore, is a show of aggression for its own sake against the government of Israel, as if these were two governments of equal status, each seeking to bolster its own prestige.

This is the moment for Olmert and his government, however temporary, to do away with protests and denunciations, and to make it clear which is the government of Israel."

more

[Scurrilous]

6. Rabbis threaten Olmert over Hebron

Group of extreme-right rabbis sends letter to Acting Prime Minister Olmert warning him of a 'personal catastrophe' if he moves on with Hebron evacuation

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3201122,00.html

<snip>

"In a letter to Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, a group of extremist rabbis threatens the leader that will face "a personal catastrophe" if he moves forward with the evacuation of houses occupied by Jewish settlers in Hebron .

"Don’t make the hasty move of abandoning the Land of Israel, and don't bring catastrophe upon the people of Israel and yourself," the rabbis write.

This "warning letter" was compiled by Rabbi Gedalia Axelrod, former Haifa rabbinical judge; Rabbi Shalom Wolpe, a Chabad rabbi of SOS Israel; and Rabbi Yekutiel Rapp of SOS Israel.

The rabbis remind Olmert in the letter of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's fate after he "destroyed Gush Katif and northern Samaria."

<snip>

"The rabbis bring the examples of several former prime ministers, including Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin and Sharon, and claim that "prime ministers who harmed the Land of Israel never succeeded in completing their term in office."

[Scurrilous]

7. Hebron declared closed military zone

Security officials inform Hebron settler leaders youths who do no reside in town must leave by 10 a.m. Tuesday. Meanwhile, appraisers to examine damaged Palestinian homes, stores; Israel may offer compensation. Palestinian Hebron resident tells Ynet about settler violence

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3201313,00.html

<snip>

"Last chance to leave Hebron: IDF Central Command Head Yair Naveh signed a military order declaring the Jewish community in the West Bank town of Hebron a closed military zone, in an effort to end settler riots.

Those who do not reside in the city would be barred from entering or staying in Hebron. The order will go into effect Tuesday morning, thereby allowing rioters who came from other communities to leave Hebron voluntarily and evade arrest.

Security forces will start imposing the military order Tuesday at 10 a.m. A message to that effect has been relayed by the IDF to community leaders in Hebron. The leaders were informed they can remove youths who are not residents of Hebron in an orderly manner and without any clashes by 10 a.m. After that time, the army made it clear it will go ahead and remove non-resident youths by force.

Anyone who wishes to enter Hebron and is not a resident will now have to apply for a special army permit. Security officials said that once the order goes into effect, anyone who hurls even one stone at security forces will be detained."

<snip>

"Meanwhile, IDF and Civil Administration officials will arrive in Hebron in the coming days and weeks in order to look into damages sustained by Palestinian homes as a result of settler riots. Later, officials will examine the possibility of compensating the Palestinians."

[Englander]

8. Beilin: Hebron compromise is submission to violent settlers

By Amos Harel, Nadav Shragai and Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondents

Meretz-Yahad chairman Yossi Beilin on Monday attacked the compromise reached between the state and Hebron settlers under which Jewish squatters would voluntarily leave the city's wholesale market and would return to the market legally later on. He called the compromise a "complete submission to violent settlers."

"This is an embarrassing compromise which means complete submission to the violent and extremist settlers of Hebron," Beilin said.

Beilin added that the compromise achieved "raises serious question marks regarding (the state's) ability to function under pressure and to face difficult diplomatic challenges."

The agreement between the state and Hebron's settlers was reached early Monday and the state promised settlers it would speed up legal proceedings that would enable them to return to the market legally.

>snip

The police and the IDF had planned to forcibly evacuate the Hebron market on Monday, and some 4,000 policemen and 2,000 soldiers were trained for the operation yesterday. However, the parties have also conducted negotiations over the last few days with the goal of reaching agreement on a voluntary evacuation.

http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/676238.html

[Scurrilous]

9. Deal? What deal??

Mazuz: No deal on Hebron

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3208170,00.html

Attorney general denies compromise deal has been reached with settlers on voluntary evacuation of Hebron market, says State made no concession, did not commit to repopulating market with Jews at later date

<snip>

"Attorney General Menachem Mazuz issued a statement Monday denying a deal has been reached between the State and setters on a voluntary evacuation of the Hebron market.

Mazuz said the settlers' voluntary departure is not conditioned on a compromise deal or a concession on the part of the State and that no commitment was made to repopulate the market with Jews at a later date.

"There is no compromise or compromise offer on the part of the State for evacuating structures in the Hebron marketplace," the statement read. "If those residing in the market wish to leave voluntarily, the attorney general lauds this."

Mazuz' comments contradict a pledge made by security officials to Hebron community leaders, with the approval of political officials. According to that compromise, once the market is cleared, legal procedures for renting the homes in question for the benefit of Jewish residents will be pushed forward.

However, Hebron community spokesman Noam Arnon rejected Mazuz' statement and said "we do have an agreement. We intend to follow it and we expect and are certain the other side will also deliver."

[Englander]

10. Haaretz don't believe Mazuz either.

>snip

Agreement signed early Monday

Despite Mazuz' denial, the agreement between the state and Hebron's settlers was reached early Monday. According to the agreement the state promised settlers it would speed up legal proceedings that would enable them to return to the market legally.

Police and the IDF had planned to forcibly evacuate the Hebron market on Monday, and some 4,000 policemen and 2,000 soldiers were trained for the operation on Sunday. However, the parties had also conducted negotiations over the last few days with the goal of reaching agreement on a voluntary evacuation.

Brigadier General Yair Golan, commander of the IDF forces in the West Bank, met on Sunday with Hebron settlement leaders to present the state's final offer, whose outline was first reported in Haaretz two weeks ago. Under the terms of the deal, which has been approved by Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, settlers would voluntarily evacuate the stores in which they are squatting, and in return, the IDF would speed up a legal examination of the possibility of expropriating the market from the Hebron municipality and leasing it to the settlers. The basis for expropriation is that the market was originally Jewish property, which was seized by Jordan in 1948 and later transferred to the Hebron municipality.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/676238.html

[Scurrilous]

11. Settlers leave Hebron market

Confrontation averted: Jewish families residing in Hebron market depart voluntarily; meanwhile, tensions rise ahead of evacuation of Amona outpost, settlers flock to area, some puncture IDF jeep, hurl stone at army post

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3208315,00.html

<snip>

"Jewish families residing in Hebron's market voluntarily evacuated their homes Monday evening. Some families left with their belongings, whereas others left them behind and can received an extension to collect them by Thursday.

Meanwhile, community members in Hebron have arranged for alternate housing for the evacuees within the town.

Hebron Jewish Community Spokesman Noam Arnon told Ynet the families left following "understandings reached with the defense establishment. We're honoring and agreement."

Attention will now focus on the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona, slated for evacuation Wednesday. Monday night, settlers attacked an IDF jeep near the outpost, punctured its tires, and proceeded to hurl stones at an army post near the settlement of Ofra.

The IDF says it is treating the matter severely. The army said the forces under attack are deployed in the area in order to protect the settlers, and noted the jeep whose tires were slices can no longer be utilized."