WITH SETTLERS vowing revenge following Thursday’s eviction of Jewish families from a disputed building in Hebron, Israeli security forces went on high alert across the West Bank yesterday.
The operation to remove 10 families and about 100 supporters went relatively smoothly, but was followed by attacks in Hebron by Jewish militants against Palestinian residents and property.
Settlers and sympathisers had warned that they would “exact a price tag” if the Israeli security forces moved to implement a court order to evict Jewish dwellers from the four-storey house in the flashpoint city .
After the eviction, gangs of Jewish activists vented their frustrations on their Palestinian neighbours, attacking homes and cars. Stone-throwing clashes erupted and some Palestinians even came under fire from armed settlers.
Security reinforcements were deployed across the West Bank yesterday with 500 policemen drafted to Hebron.
Israeli army generals met with Palestinian police officers in an effort to soothe tensions and prevent a further escalation of the violence.
But Jewish settlers, frustrated by their failure to prevent the storming of the house, warned that they will choose when to respond, vowing to take the army by surprise, just as the army had taken them by surprise in the lightning raid on the disputed building.
Israeli troops yesterday used tear gas to disperse several dozen Palestinians protesting in Hebron against the settler violence.
Palestinian Authority representatives welcomed the eviction of the settlers from the building but expressed concern over the attacks by settlers on Palestinians residents.
Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki yesterday summoned foreign diplomats for urgent consultations, asking for international intervention and for a meeting of the UN Security Council. “Israel must protect Hebron’s Palestinians and should remove settlers from the city,” Mr Malki said.
Robert Serry, UN special co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process, noted that Israel, as the occupying power, is obliged to protect Palestinian civilians and property. Mr Serry welcomed the removal of the settlers from the building, but criticised the ensuing violence.
“I condemn the attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and the destruction and desecration of Palestinian property, mosques and graves,” the envoy said.
“I remain concerned about the potential for a further escalation of a tense situation.”
Hebron settler spokeswoman, Orit Struck, rejected the claims made against the rioting settlers, saying the reports had been blown out of proportion.