The scene in the Talmon area was not a pleasant one on Thursday when area Jewish residents and soldiers were at odds, resulting in injuries to IDF soldiers sent to the area to protect and defend Jewish residents.

Sorrowfully, reserve duty soldiers came under attack in a number of situations on Thursday, each time by Jews opposed to their mandate, to enforce the law. In the first case, a dog was commanded to attack a company commander, who emerged unharmed, but it did lead to a sharp increase in tensions and a further breakdown in relations between the area Jewish residents and soldiers.

In the second case, a captain sustained a fractured finger and in a third scuffle, a major sustained a fractured hand or arm [the report is unclear].

In case one, soldiers were protecting officials of the IDF’s Civil Administration, who came to confiscate ‘illegal’ equipment from the Yad Yair outpost, including a generator supplying electricity. A scuffle ensued and the tires of a vehicle were slashed and resident ordered his dog to attack one of the officers. An officer was bitten and received medical treatment and the dog was placed in quarantine.

One officer explained “I was embarrassed as they attacked us with rocks. It was bad, as if we are from a strange army. There are also soldiers who live in the area and serve with us. For them, I was even more embarrassed.”

“The hate towards us was even greater than the hate from the Palestinians,” the officer added.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)