Barak: Settlers trying to fracture State's authority
Government to hold urgent discussion on recent bout of violence directed towards security forces in West Bank; PM Olmert to address domestic, foreign media with sharp condemnation. Defense minister tells Ynet group of extremists is trying to dictate its agenda to state
The resurgent issue of settlers assaulting Palestinians and security forces will top the agenda at Sunday morning's cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is seeking a forceful and resolute plan of action
by the defense establishment, police and justice system to halt any further escalation of the crisis.
Representatives from all three will brief the government on the situation, as concerns over the disregard of law amongst West Bank settlers grow.
The meeting will be held after two Border Guard officers were wounded by rocks hurled at them by children of settlers near the Federman Farm outpost in Hebron.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke with Ynet ahead of the discussion: "These riots and public disturbances are extremely grave, and their objective is to undermine the authority of the state and its ability to impose order on its citizens. There is an attempt here by a group of extremists to fracture the authority of the state and its representatives in the field, the IDF and the police, born of their pretension to dictate to the state the patterns of behavior seen in Judea and Samaria."
Last week Barak instructed senior defense officials to increase the use of administrative injunctions against law-breakers in the West Bank, and further ordered the establishment of a committee to monitor settler activity.
Settlers face off with troops at Federman Farm (Archive photo: Rahamim Maimon)
Olmert is expected to open the cabinet meeting with an address to domestic and foreign media in which he will sharply denounce the behavior of Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
The discussion was set after Vice Premier Haim Ramon lodged a request to hold such a meeting nearly a fortnight ago.
"Several hundred unruly Jewish hooligans are running amuck in the Territories, beating IDF officers, breaking bones, and trying to assassinate Professor (Ze'ev) Sternhell. And the government stands before them trembling and helpless, and all the law enforcement agencies explain why nothing can be done against them. I am convinced that if these were Palestinians, they would all be behind bars by now," said Ramon.
Kadima chairwoman, Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni, is also expected to call for immediate action. Speaking at a cabinet meeting shortly after a pipe-bomb was detonated on the doorstep of left-wing academic Sternhell, Livni said: "Those who raise their hands against soldiers and policemen will not hesitate to go further. It is our duty to change things."
