There was a bit of a ruckus at the Ma’aras HaMachpelah on Tuesday morning 26 Menachem Av. Border police officers entered in the morning, instructing everyone to leave ahead of a visit by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon.

Baruch Marzel explained that students from the Zilberstein Talmid Torah were in the midst of a visit, and these children study Torah “with mesirus nefesh” and they will not be told to leave until they are done.

It did not take long for reinforcements to arrive and it was decided to prevent a deterioration of the situation, Marzel would be escorted out but the children would be permitted to continue their limud during the cabinet minster’s visit. Once outside, Marzel jumped on the hood of the minister’s vehicle shouting “Enemy of the settlement movement – minister of a lack of defense and security who is strong against Jews and weak against the Arabs”.

Yassam commando police moved in and removed Marzel, at which time he said “This is the worst defense minister for the settlement movement and the chutzpah, that because of him we must evacuate the Jewish Ma’aras HaMachpelah”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)