20 oct 2019
IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Shin Bet, IDF and police agree on joint effort 'to counter this grave phenomenon' after soldier lightly hurt in overnight attack; Kochavi instructs security forces to track down perpetrators; Netanyahu: Zero tolerance for those who raise a hand against our soldiers
The branches of Israel's security forces will work together to counter extremist settlers who attack Israeli troops, the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday after an overnight incident in the West Bank that left one soldier wounded.
A group of some 30 settlers threw stones at an IDF patrol and slashed the tires on their vehicle during a 3am incident close to the settlement of Yitzhar in the northern West Bank.
The IDF Spokesman said that IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman and Acting Israel Police Commissioner Motti Cohen took a joint decision "to focus efforts and cooperate in every way possible in order to counter this grave phenomenon," the army said.
"The IDF will work together with the Shin Bet and the police to quickly root out all those who violate law and order."
Kochavi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack earlier Sunday.
Kochavi ordered security forces to track down those involved in the attack so that they can face the law, calling the incident and similar events this week as "delinquent" behavior.
"It is inconceivable that IDF soldiers who work night and day to defend the settlers are attacked by those they protect," he said.
Netanyahu also warned there would be "zero tolerance" for anyone attacking soldiers.
"I strongly condemn any attack on IDF troops," he said. "There will be zero tolerance for law-breakers who raise a hand against our soldiers."
The IDF Spokesperson said the soldiers from the Golani Brigade responded to the attack with riot dispersal measures and fired into the air in accordance with the military's rules of engagement.
"The IDF strongly condemns physical and verbal violence against its servicemen and views such incidents in a very harsh light," the army said.
The area has long been the site of tensions between the residents of the Palestinian town and the settlers of Yitzhar, with Israeli troops often caught in the middle.
The incident comes shortly after a resident of Yitzhar was arrested on suspicion of attacking the Golani Brigade patrol commander, Lt. Col. Ayub Kayuf.
According to the IDF, several settlers on Saturday night blocked the vehicle in which the officer was travelling, with one opening the vehicle's door and threatening to seize it.
Kayuf repelled the settlers and filed a complaint with the police.
Two days earlier, Golani military police arrested a youth from Yitzhar on suspicion of setting a fire in the valley between the hills of the settlement and the nearby Palestinian town of Huwara.
The head of Samaria Regional Council Yossi Dagan and IDF officials were trying to calm the situation on the ground on Sunday.
Dagan met with the soldiers who came under attack and told them that of the local residents' anger over the incident.
"All the residents of Samaria and Yitzhar are disgusted at the harm to our dear soldiers," he said.
Shin Bet, IDF and police agree on joint effort 'to counter this grave phenomenon' after soldier lightly hurt in overnight attack; Kochavi instructs security forces to track down perpetrators; Netanyahu: Zero tolerance for those who raise a hand against our soldiers
The branches of Israel's security forces will work together to counter extremist settlers who attack Israeli troops, the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday after an overnight incident in the West Bank that left one soldier wounded.
A group of some 30 settlers threw stones at an IDF patrol and slashed the tires on their vehicle during a 3am incident close to the settlement of Yitzhar in the northern West Bank.
The IDF Spokesman said that IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman and Acting Israel Police Commissioner Motti Cohen took a joint decision "to focus efforts and cooperate in every way possible in order to counter this grave phenomenon," the army said.
"The IDF will work together with the Shin Bet and the police to quickly root out all those who violate law and order."
Kochavi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack earlier Sunday.
Kochavi ordered security forces to track down those involved in the attack so that they can face the law, calling the incident and similar events this week as "delinquent" behavior.
"It is inconceivable that IDF soldiers who work night and day to defend the settlers are attacked by those they protect," he said.
Netanyahu also warned there would be "zero tolerance" for anyone attacking soldiers.
"I strongly condemn any attack on IDF troops," he said. "There will be zero tolerance for law-breakers who raise a hand against our soldiers."
The IDF Spokesperson said the soldiers from the Golani Brigade responded to the attack with riot dispersal measures and fired into the air in accordance with the military's rules of engagement.
"The IDF strongly condemns physical and verbal violence against its servicemen and views such incidents in a very harsh light," the army said.
The area has long been the site of tensions between the residents of the Palestinian town and the settlers of Yitzhar, with Israeli troops often caught in the middle.
The incident comes shortly after a resident of Yitzhar was arrested on suspicion of attacking the Golani Brigade patrol commander, Lt. Col. Ayub Kayuf.
According to the IDF, several settlers on Saturday night blocked the vehicle in which the officer was travelling, with one opening the vehicle's door and threatening to seize it.
Kayuf repelled the settlers and filed a complaint with the police.
Two days earlier, Golani military police arrested a youth from Yitzhar on suspicion of setting a fire in the valley between the hills of the settlement and the nearby Palestinian town of Huwara.
The head of Samaria Regional Council Yossi Dagan and IDF officials were trying to calm the situation on the ground on Sunday.
Dagan met with the soldiers who came under attack and told them that of the local residents' anger over the incident.
"All the residents of Samaria and Yitzhar are disgusted at the harm to our dear soldiers," he said.
IDF says group of some 30 settlers also slashed tires of troops' vehicle, soldiers responded by firing into the air in latest incident near Yitzhar settlement; army condemns attack, saying it 'views such incidents in a very harsh light'
An Israel Defense Forces soldier was lightly wounded in an attack by dozens of West Bank settlers overnight Saturday, the army said Sunday.
The group of some 30 settlers threw stones at the IDF patrol and slashed the tires on their vehicle during the 3am incident close to the settlement of Yitzhar in the northern West Bank.
According to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, the soldiers from the Golani Brigade responded with riot dispersal measures and fired into the air in accordance with the military's rules for opening fire.
"The IDF strongly condemns physical and verbal violence against its servicemen and views such incidents in a very harsh light," the army said.
The incident comes shortly after a resident of Yitzhar was arrested on suspicion of attacking the Golani Brigade patrol commander, Lt. Col. Ayub Kayuf.
According to the IDF, several settlers on Saturday night blocked the vehicle in which the officer was travelling, with one opening the vehicle's door and threatening to seize it.
Kayuf repelled the settlers and filed a complaint with the police.
Two days earlier, Golani military police arrested a youth from Yitzhar on suspicion of setting a fire in the valley between the hills of the settlement and the nearby Palestinian town of Huwara.
The area has long been the site of tensions between the residents of the Palestinian town and the settlers of Yitzhar, with Israeli troops often caught in the middle.
The head of Samaria Regional Council Yossi Dagan and IDF officials were trying to calm the situation on the ground on Sunday.
Dagan met with the soldiers who came under attack and told them that of the local residents' anger over the incident.
"All the residents of Samaria and Yitzhar are disgusted at the harm to our dear soldiers," he said.
"The handful who did this – youths who mostly came from outside the settlements - and will use all our tools at disposal to oust them from here. Yitzhar loves the IDF soldiers along with all the residents of Samaria."
Israeli Soldier Lightly Injured by Rock in Violent Clash With Settlers
An Israel Defense Forces soldier was lightly wounded in an attack by dozens of West Bank settlers overnight Saturday, the army said Sunday.
The group of some 30 settlers threw stones at the IDF patrol and slashed the tires on their vehicle during the 3am incident close to the settlement of Yitzhar in the northern West Bank.
According to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, the soldiers from the Golani Brigade responded with riot dispersal measures and fired into the air in accordance with the military's rules for opening fire.
"The IDF strongly condemns physical and verbal violence against its servicemen and views such incidents in a very harsh light," the army said.
The incident comes shortly after a resident of Yitzhar was arrested on suspicion of attacking the Golani Brigade patrol commander, Lt. Col. Ayub Kayuf.
According to the IDF, several settlers on Saturday night blocked the vehicle in which the officer was travelling, with one opening the vehicle's door and threatening to seize it.
Kayuf repelled the settlers and filed a complaint with the police.
Two days earlier, Golani military police arrested a youth from Yitzhar on suspicion of setting a fire in the valley between the hills of the settlement and the nearby Palestinian town of Huwara.
The area has long been the site of tensions between the residents of the Palestinian town and the settlers of Yitzhar, with Israeli troops often caught in the middle.
The head of Samaria Regional Council Yossi Dagan and IDF officials were trying to calm the situation on the ground on Sunday.
Dagan met with the soldiers who came under attack and told them that of the local residents' anger over the incident.
"All the residents of Samaria and Yitzhar are disgusted at the harm to our dear soldiers," he said.
"The handful who did this – youths who mostly came from outside the settlements - and will use all our tools at disposal to oust them from here. Yitzhar loves the IDF soldiers along with all the residents of Samaria."
Israeli Soldier Lightly Injured by Rock in Violent Clash With Settlers
Rabbi Moshe Yehuda
The Israel Defence Forces told The Times of Israel that a soldier was lightly injured overnight Saturday, by a rock, during clashes between security forces and settlers near the illegal Yitzhar settlement, in the northern West Bank.
The riots, involving approximately 30 settlers, who hurled stones at troops and punctured tires of military vehicles, to which the army responded with riot dispersal means.
The soldier received medical treatment at the scene, and no arrests were reported.
A teenaged settler living in the illegal Yitzhar settlement, was arrested on October 16, for his involvement in an incident of physical violence against human rights activists, then released two days later.
Israeli rights groups reported that a gang of masked settlers armed with crowbars, brutally assaulted a group of activists, among them an 80-year-old rabbi, assisting Palestinian farmers in the northern West Bank with their harvest.
Five international volunteers from the US, UK and other European countries were injured, a Yesh Din field worker stated. Israeli activist Rabbi Moshe Yehuda, shown above, was attacked by settlers, and suffered a broken arm and head injury, was evacuated to Meir Medical Center.
Rabbis for Human Rights recruits volunteers to accompany Palestinians, who say they face regular intimidation and violence while tending to crops located near settlements throughout the West Bank.
This year’s annual olive harvest, which has just begun, has seen several incidents of violence in the West Bank. The harvest is a frequent site of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli settlers that the Israel Defence Forces claims it seeks to prevent.
The same teenaged settler was re-arrested Friday night on suspicion of verbally threatening a battalion commander. The IDF stated that it “unequivocally condemns physical and verbal abuse toward its servicemen and takes a very harsh view of this incident,”
Source: Times of Israel
The Israel Defence Forces told The Times of Israel that a soldier was lightly injured overnight Saturday, by a rock, during clashes between security forces and settlers near the illegal Yitzhar settlement, in the northern West Bank.
The riots, involving approximately 30 settlers, who hurled stones at troops and punctured tires of military vehicles, to which the army responded with riot dispersal means.
The soldier received medical treatment at the scene, and no arrests were reported.
A teenaged settler living in the illegal Yitzhar settlement, was arrested on October 16, for his involvement in an incident of physical violence against human rights activists, then released two days later.
Israeli rights groups reported that a gang of masked settlers armed with crowbars, brutally assaulted a group of activists, among them an 80-year-old rabbi, assisting Palestinian farmers in the northern West Bank with their harvest.
Five international volunteers from the US, UK and other European countries were injured, a Yesh Din field worker stated. Israeli activist Rabbi Moshe Yehuda, shown above, was attacked by settlers, and suffered a broken arm and head injury, was evacuated to Meir Medical Center.
Rabbis for Human Rights recruits volunteers to accompany Palestinians, who say they face regular intimidation and violence while tending to crops located near settlements throughout the West Bank.
This year’s annual olive harvest, which has just begun, has seen several incidents of violence in the West Bank. The harvest is a frequent site of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli settlers that the Israel Defence Forces claims it seeks to prevent.
The same teenaged settler was re-arrested Friday night on suspicion of verbally threatening a battalion commander. The IDF stated that it “unequivocally condemns physical and verbal abuse toward its servicemen and takes a very harsh view of this incident,”
Source: Times of Israel
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Sunday arrested a number of Palestinian citizens during large-scale campaigns in the West Bank.
Local sources reported that three Palestinian citizens, including a 13-year-old boy, were arrested in Qalqilya and Tulkarem.
Dozens of Palestinian homes were raided and searched in different West Bank villages and towns.
Several settler attacks during olive harvest were reported in Ramallah on Saturday.
Eyewitnesses said that groups of Israeli settlers, accompanied by armed forces, attacked Palestinian farmers who were picking olives in Burqa and Beitin villages in Ramallah.
At least four Palestinian farmers choked on tear gas fired by the Israeli soldiers who accompanied the settlers.
Meanwhile in Nablus, three Palestinian olive pickers suffered various injuries after being assaulted by Israeli settlers in Burin village.
Local sources reported that three Palestinian citizens, including a 13-year-old boy, were arrested in Qalqilya and Tulkarem.
Dozens of Palestinian homes were raided and searched in different West Bank villages and towns.
Several settler attacks during olive harvest were reported in Ramallah on Saturday.
Eyewitnesses said that groups of Israeli settlers, accompanied by armed forces, attacked Palestinian farmers who were picking olives in Burqa and Beitin villages in Ramallah.
At least four Palestinian farmers choked on tear gas fired by the Israeli soldiers who accompanied the settlers.
Meanwhile in Nablus, three Palestinian olive pickers suffered various injuries after being assaulted by Israeli settlers in Burin village.
Scores of Israeli settlers on Sunday morning forced their way into al-Aqsa Mosque through al-Maghareba Gate under police guard.
Local sources said that about 653 Israeli settlers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque and performed Talmudic rituals at Bab al-Rahma prayer area.
The Israeli police forces clashed with al-Aqsa guards who tried to confront the settler raid, and assaulted a number of Palestinian worshipers who were present in Bab al-Rahma area and forced them out of the site.
Meanwhile, thousands of Israeli settlers in the early morning hours of Sunday gathered at the Western Wall (al-Buraq Wall) and performed celebrations and rituals marking Sukkot holiday.
The Israeli Temple Mount Movement on Saturday called for mass break-ins by Jewish settlers into al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday, the seventh day of Sukkot. video1 video2 video3 video4
According to the Islamic Awqaf Department in Jerusalem, since the start of Sukkot on Thursday, over 2,700 Israeli settlers have defiled al-Aqsa Mosque.
Al-Aqsa Mosque has recently witnessed a marked escalation in the number of settler break-ins organized by extremist groups during Jewish holidays, which coincides with tight restrictions on the Palestinian worshipers wishing to visit the site.
Local sources said that about 653 Israeli settlers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque and performed Talmudic rituals at Bab al-Rahma prayer area.
The Israeli police forces clashed with al-Aqsa guards who tried to confront the settler raid, and assaulted a number of Palestinian worshipers who were present in Bab al-Rahma area and forced them out of the site.
Meanwhile, thousands of Israeli settlers in the early morning hours of Sunday gathered at the Western Wall (al-Buraq Wall) and performed celebrations and rituals marking Sukkot holiday.
The Israeli Temple Mount Movement on Saturday called for mass break-ins by Jewish settlers into al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday, the seventh day of Sukkot. video1 video2 video3 video4
According to the Islamic Awqaf Department in Jerusalem, since the start of Sukkot on Thursday, over 2,700 Israeli settlers have defiled al-Aqsa Mosque.
Al-Aqsa Mosque has recently witnessed a marked escalation in the number of settler break-ins organized by extremist groups during Jewish holidays, which coincides with tight restrictions on the Palestinian worshipers wishing to visit the site.
and meant to help the villagers, subject to frequent assaults and violations by both the illegal colonists and the soldiers.
He also stated that the soldiers stopped a bus, transporting local and international activists into the Palestinian orchards.
The coordinator added that in its “We Are With You” Campaign, the Palestinian Agricultural Relief aims at helping the Palestinians in lands and orchards near the illegal Annexation Wall, including lands Israel intends to illegally annex for its wall and colonies.
The villagers in those areas are subject to constant assaults and violations by the soldiers and the illegal fanatic colonists.
Such attacks always witness a sharp escalation by the illegal colonists during the olive harvest season.
He also stated that the soldiers stopped a bus, transporting local and international activists into the Palestinian orchards.
The coordinator added that in its “We Are With You” Campaign, the Palestinian Agricultural Relief aims at helping the Palestinians in lands and orchards near the illegal Annexation Wall, including lands Israel intends to illegally annex for its wall and colonies.
The villagers in those areas are subject to constant assaults and violations by the soldiers and the illegal fanatic colonists.
Such attacks always witness a sharp escalation by the illegal colonists during the olive harvest season.
18 oct 2019
Several illegal Israeli colonialist settlers and soldiers attacked, Friday, dozens of Palestinian farmers while trying to enter their own orchards to pick their olive trees in the ash-Shu’ab area, between the villages of Burqa and Beitin, northeast of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
The head of Burqa Village Council, Adnan Barakat, told the WAFA Palestinian News Agency that around sixteen colonists invaded the Palestinian orchards, and started assaulting them while forcing them out of their lands.
He added that the Israel soldiers were present during the attack, and fired many gas bombs at the Palestinians, causing four to suffer the severe effects of teargas inhalation before they were moved to a local clinic.
On Tuesday, the armed colonists attacked the Palestinians in the same area, and stoke their olive harvest, while the soldiers stood and watched.
The head of Burqa Village Council, Adnan Barakat, told the WAFA Palestinian News Agency that around sixteen colonists invaded the Palestinian orchards, and started assaulting them while forcing them out of their lands.
He added that the Israel soldiers were present during the attack, and fired many gas bombs at the Palestinians, causing four to suffer the severe effects of teargas inhalation before they were moved to a local clinic.
On Tuesday, the armed colonists attacked the Palestinians in the same area, and stoke their olive harvest, while the soldiers stood and watched.
The Israeli occupation forces conducted night raids on Friday morning before dawn, abducting two young men from Jenin and raiding several houses.
According to local sources, Israeli forces abducted the editor Fuad Aghbarieh, as well as the civilian Marwan Hashash, after storming the city of Jenin and raiding their homes while they were asleep in their beds.
In addition to abducting Fuad from his home, they ordered the journalist to hand over his son Majdi within 74 hours.
The abductions came after the soldiers wreaked havoc and shattered the doors of the houses amid the firing of sound bombs inside.
Earlier that night, Israeli forces raided a wedding party in the town of Sur Baher, southeast of occupied Jerusalem. video
Local sources told the Palestinian Wafa News Agency that the Israeli occupation forces stormed the ceremony, and deliberately terrorized the participants, amid skirmishes with the residents.
Also Friday morning before dawn, Israeli forces closed the Ramallah-Nablus Street to secure a marathon for settlers.
The Israeli army announced Thursday that the closure would continue from five in the morning until 12:30 pm, in order to allow a marathon run by illegal Israeli settlers from the junction of the village of Turmus’aya to the junction of Zaatara village.
According to the Wafa correspondent that the occupation forces closed the main entrance of Salfit (in the northern West Bank) and prevented citizens from using the main roads to secure the marathon settlers.
Israeli forces close main West Bank traffic artery for settlers’ marathon
Israeli forces today closed sections of the Ramallah-Nablus Road, also known as Route 60, to empty the road for dozens of settlers taking part in a marathon at the main traffic artery.
The Israeli military announced that it would erect barriers and close a section of Route 60 from 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to allow the settlers’ marathon from the junction of Turmus Ayya village, north of Ramallah, to the junction of Za’tara village.
WAFA correspondent noted that Israeli forces sealed off the main entrance of Salfit and prevented Palestinians from using the main roads to secure the settlers’ marathon.
The marathon caused a heavy traffic jam for Palestinian traffic as Route 60 is the main road for Palestinians traveling from the southern West Bank and the center and north.
Palestinian traffic has to take alternative longer detours, including some unpaved, in order to reach their destinations.
Since the signing of the Oslo Accords, Palestinians have not been able to travel freely on Route 60, which is spotted with Israeli checkpoints when the road passes from areas under Palestinian control to areas under Israeli military control.
In addition to the checkpoints, Israel has established several ‘bypass roads’, enabling Israeli traffic to bypass areas of Route 60 that passed through Palestinian jurisdiction.
Israeli severely restricts Palestinians’ freedom of movement through a complex combination of approximately 100 fixed checkpoints, flying checkpoints, settler-only roads, and various other physical obstructions.
According to local sources, Israeli forces abducted the editor Fuad Aghbarieh, as well as the civilian Marwan Hashash, after storming the city of Jenin and raiding their homes while they were asleep in their beds.
In addition to abducting Fuad from his home, they ordered the journalist to hand over his son Majdi within 74 hours.
The abductions came after the soldiers wreaked havoc and shattered the doors of the houses amid the firing of sound bombs inside.
Earlier that night, Israeli forces raided a wedding party in the town of Sur Baher, southeast of occupied Jerusalem. video
Local sources told the Palestinian Wafa News Agency that the Israeli occupation forces stormed the ceremony, and deliberately terrorized the participants, amid skirmishes with the residents.
Also Friday morning before dawn, Israeli forces closed the Ramallah-Nablus Street to secure a marathon for settlers.
The Israeli army announced Thursday that the closure would continue from five in the morning until 12:30 pm, in order to allow a marathon run by illegal Israeli settlers from the junction of the village of Turmus’aya to the junction of Zaatara village.
According to the Wafa correspondent that the occupation forces closed the main entrance of Salfit (in the northern West Bank) and prevented citizens from using the main roads to secure the marathon settlers.
Israeli forces close main West Bank traffic artery for settlers’ marathon
Israeli forces today closed sections of the Ramallah-Nablus Road, also known as Route 60, to empty the road for dozens of settlers taking part in a marathon at the main traffic artery.
The Israeli military announced that it would erect barriers and close a section of Route 60 from 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to allow the settlers’ marathon from the junction of Turmus Ayya village, north of Ramallah, to the junction of Za’tara village.
WAFA correspondent noted that Israeli forces sealed off the main entrance of Salfit and prevented Palestinians from using the main roads to secure the settlers’ marathon.
The marathon caused a heavy traffic jam for Palestinian traffic as Route 60 is the main road for Palestinians traveling from the southern West Bank and the center and north.
Palestinian traffic has to take alternative longer detours, including some unpaved, in order to reach their destinations.
Since the signing of the Oslo Accords, Palestinians have not been able to travel freely on Route 60, which is spotted with Israeli checkpoints when the road passes from areas under Palestinian control to areas under Israeli military control.
In addition to the checkpoints, Israel has established several ‘bypass roads’, enabling Israeli traffic to bypass areas of Route 60 that passed through Palestinian jurisdiction.
Israeli severely restricts Palestinians’ freedom of movement through a complex combination of approximately 100 fixed checkpoints, flying checkpoints, settler-only roads, and various other physical obstructions.