After the predawn raid and demolition of a number of homes in Yitzhar on Tuesday, 8 Nissan, the public debate regarding Yitzhar, the settlements and price tag attacks is back in the news.

While residents of Yitzhar insist police acted brutally and without provocation when dozens of armed soldiers arrived in the middle of the night to carry out demolition orders. Resident Eyal Luria held a chunk of hair in his hand to show reporters how soldiers tore out a portion of his beard. Other residents explained how they were assaulted without cause.

Police tell a different story, one involving rocks hurled at them and a need to use stun grenades and teargas against the attackers.

Some soldiers belonging to the reserve duty unit that took part in the operation are quoted saying the feel betrayed, questioning why they are attacked when they risk life and limb to protect community residents in a hostile area. They were not permitted to speak to the media, banned by their officers, but Channel 10 quotes some saying “for this we left our families at home, to be attacked by the residents of the community we are protecting”.

MK (Labor) Omer Bar Lev called for action once and for all, warning if price tags are not halted and fanatics the likes of Yishuv Yitzhar are not removed the nation will pay a much higher price in the future.

Right-wing attorney and veteran Hebron resident Itamar Ben-Givir decried the actions of law-enforcement, questioning why police acted so violently against residents without justification.

Shomron Regional Council head Gershon Mesika lamented “collective punishment” and “dictatorial policies”, questioning why so many innocent area residents are punished for the actions of a few extremists. He highlighted that the majority of Yitzhar residents are peaceful and law-abiding and the community is unfairly being portrayed as a fringe community of zealots.

The raid came a day after the tires of an IDF officer were slashed during a visit in the community, leading some to accuse security forces of acting out of revenge.

After the force left, completing the demolitions, a nearby IDF outpost was badly vandalized in an apparent price tag attack in response to the demolitions. Everything in the outpost was destroyed. This led to more condemnations.

The slashing of the commander’s tires and the attack against the outpost near Yitzhar have left the residents of that community with a black eye as many supporters are finding it increasingly difficult to lend a sympathetic ear in the face of attacks against IDF troops and equipment.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon stated the actions of the residents of Yitzhar harm the entire yishuv movement. The senior minister added there will be zero tolerance regarding the actions of extremists.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)