Jewish Residents and Security Forces Clash at Eish Kodesh in Shomron

Area residents accuse security forces of using unjustifiable force at Eish Kodesh in Shomron, directing stun grenades and teargas at Jews in the area in an effort to distance from Arab farmers plowing land adjacent to Eish Kodesh.

This round of confrontations began on Tuesday, 19 Teves 5773, when authorities escorted Arab farmers, standing by to protect them to permit them to plow fields between Eish Kodesh and Achiya. Residents and many supporters arrived and tried to block the plowing with their bodies, but the border police response was “brutal” HaKol HaYehudi reports. Those present report border police did not differentiate between men and the women, children and infants present, and they were quick to begin using force to move them from the area.

The area residents are moser nefesh to build their communities, simply asking to be left alone, but in this case, the military provides security for their enemies, permitting them to take up position alongside their homes, to plow the fields, all the while Israeli forces keep the Jewish residents distanced from the area. Experience have taught the area’s Jewish residents of the significance of every inch of land, and they realize as the Arabs do that every inch can play a significant role in the future as the sides battle for ownership of areas of Eretz Yisrael.

IDF reservists came to the assistance of Eish Kodesh residents against the border police, showing a sympathetic response, somewhat angered and perplexed by the border police response – the quick decision to deploy unnecessary force against the Jews. A Druse border police office by the name of Yousef commanded the border police operation, and the Jews explained he was obviously handpicked for the mission for he showed no mercy to the Jews.

The IDF reservists shouted at the border policemen “We are one people! Who are you firing on?”

This has obviously been selected by the Arabs as a critical area and as such, one can know with a measure of certainty that the violence is not over, and the hiatus is unlikely to be long lasting.

A number of Jews have been arrested at the location in recent days, some being remanded in the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)