Last update - 01:13 13/02/2005
Seven held after settlers run amok at Gush Katif junction
By Amos Harel
Police arrested seven settlers who rioted and tried to block the Gush Katif junction to Palestinian traffic on Friday morning during a protest against Palestinian mortar attacks. The settlers blocked the main road, threw stones at passing cars and tried to pull Palestinians out of their cars and commandeer them.
The police evacuated the protesters by force after they ignored their orders to disperse and clashed with several settlers. Unlike previous cases, the police did not release the offenders after questioning and said they intend to press charges against them.
In another incident on Friday, settlers clashed with Israel Defense Forces officers and tried to run down an army officer in the settlement of Itamar, the officer said. According to police, the driver did not attempt to harm the officer but drove around him, after he tried to block the vehicle. The incidents reflect the growing tension between the settlers and the army as the disengagement draws near.
On Thursday night the Samaria Brigade's operations officer spotted a new trailer sitting next to the Itamar settlement's front gate. The settlers said they intended to replace an older trailer used to accommodate soldiers securing the outpost.
The officer agreed to let them switch trailers at 7 A.M. on Friday, in the presence of other officers. However, at 5 A.M. the settlers instead brought the trailer into a nearby outpost.
IDF officers tried to stop the settlers from situating the trailer there, whereupon the latter verbally abused the soldiers, threatening them: "We'll kick you out of here like we did in Yitzhar."
Later on Friday Yesha Council settler leaders promised GOC Central Command Yair Naveh that the trailer would be removed early this week.
On Friday the settlers detained were remanded in Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court for three days.