In the wake of some extremist Jews’ violent conflicts with Palestinians on Shabbos, the Brig. Gen. of the Binyamin Brigade imposed collective punishment on the Jewish yishuv of Ateret, blocking the entrance and forcing anyone entering or leaving the yishuv to undergo a security check. The lockdown of the yishuv is especially appalling considering the fact that no matter how many hundreds of terrorists emerge from Palestinian areas and carry out murderous terror attacks, the IDF refused to place lockdowns on Palestinian towns due to fear of international condemnation. Moreover, when hundreds of local Arabs blocked the access road to Ateret beginning on Thursday and threw stones at Jewish cars, the IDF and police did nothing to stop them. On Motzei Shabbos, appalling police violence was documented at a protest of the residents against the collective punishment and the lack of the army’s response to the local Arabs’ security violations. During the protest, Yasam police officers were videoed acting violently, with one police officer pulling a protester’s payos, ripping off part of his beard and throwing him to the ground. Another police officer was seen using a Taser gun against a protester. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered the police to carry out an investigation of the incidents, including why a collective punishment was imposed on the yishuv. Ben-Gvir spoke with Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, saying that he is “opposed to any violation of the law but it is forbidden to punish an entire public. Just as we don’t impose a blockade on Issawiya, it is not clear why the yishuv of Ateret was put under a blockade, and using a Taser against non-threatening citizens is extremely problematic.” MK Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit) commented on the events: “There was a Sheva Brachot for my friend Atia Dimentman, who lost her husband Yehudah, H’yd, about a year and a half ago in the attack in Chomesh. The guests who arrived at Sheva Brachot were attacked by Arabs from the nearby village who blocked the road and threw stones at them.” “Unfortunately, the army was completely absent from the event and the residents had to defend themselves. From then until mid-Shabbat, the access road to Ateret turned into Russian roulette. Anyone who passed through risked being the next victim of the Arab terrorists. Those who know the residents of Ateret know that they are all law-abiding citizens. If they felt that their security was violated – then their security was indeed violated.” “During Shabbat, the residents of the villages again threatened the residents of Ateret, but this time, in light of the tangible danger, Jews arrived from all the yishuvim in the area to help protect the residents of Aterat and keep the rioters away, a task that the IDF for some reason chose not to carry out.” “After a while and surprisingly, IDF forces arrived under the command of the commander of the Binyamin Territorial Brigade, Col. Eliav Elbaz in order to ensure that the Arab rioters return safely to their village and at the same time conduct a determined hunt against the Jews who defended their lives. Since then until this morning, the residents of Ateret are under siege by large forces of the army, Yasam officers, Shin Bet operatives and police officers that have been sent to the […]
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