By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent
Hundreds of right-wing activists began marching Tuesday toward the
former West Bank settlement of Homesh, despite warnings issued by the
Israel Defense Forces and the police that terrorist groups were
planning to attack Israelis in the area.
In efforts to prevent the march, the IDF set up roadblocks on access
roads to the former settlement, which was evacuated during the
disengagement in 2005.
The activist group "Homesh First" said that the marchers would bypass
the roadblocks.
According to the organizers of the march, several hundred activists
have already arrived at the hilltops surrounding the former settlement,
and hundreds more are expected to arrive in the coming days.
The IDF Central Command has issued a warrant forbidding entry into the
area, and anyone violating it runs the risk of being arrested and
prosecuted. Large Border Police forces were summoned to the area to
prevent the protesters from entering the site.
On Monday, Border Police and police forces evacuated most of the
hilltops taken over by right-wing activists in a declared attempt to
establish illegal outposts. In turn, The Land of Israel Loyalists
issued a statement saying that the march is a continuation of their
efforts to settle the hilltops.
On Monday night, several dozen activists were still in place at the
outpost of "Shvut Ami," in Samaria, having taken over a number of
abandoned buildings. Security sources said Monday that if they do not
leave on their own accord, they will be forced out.
Throughout the day, youth that took over four hilltops were evacuated
by security forces. At "Harhivi," near the settlement of Elon Moreh,
IDF and police encountered resistance from settlers.
The IDF maintained that the security forces were struck with stones and
that an officer in the area suffered light injuries as a result and was
evacuated for medical treatment.
The army also claimed that the activists had punctured the tires of an
IDF jeep.
At the end of the clashes, the activists were removed.
The right-wing group Land of Israel Loyalists rejected the IDF's claims
that they had used violence against the security forces, calling it a
lie.
"We checked and found that there had been no stone throwing and that it
was the soldiers who used violence against us," a group leader said.
"As a result of this, one of our activists required medical treatment."
They also vowed to return to the site in an effort to establish an
outpost.
On Monday, following the evacuation of Harhivi, the Civil
Administration destroyed the three temporary structures built without
permits. Two of the structures were used as living quarters and another
as a synagogue.
The other outposts - Ma'alot Halhoul, Kumi Uri near Modi'in Ilit, and
Givat Eitam near Efrat - were all evacuated without resistance.
Original Source
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