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Photo: AP
IDF boosts presence near Kafr Qaddum
Vandalism of West Bank village's cemetery prompts military to deploy forces in the area to prevent further provocation by settlers
IDF forces deployed around the West Bank village of Kafr Qaddum, west of Nablus, Friday night, in an attempt to prevent settlers from nearby Kedumim, from infiltrating the village again.
The move followed an earlier incident, in which the village's Muslim cemetery was desecrated: Several headstones desecrated with "Kahane was right" slogans, hailing Rabbi Meir Kahane, the late leader of the radical Kach movement, and Stars of David.
Provocation
Yair Altman
'Kahane was right' slogans sprayed on Kafr Qaddum headstones. Security forces investigating
Village residents filed a completing with the Rabbis for Human Rights group following the cemetery's vandalism. The groups told Ynet that, "This morning's incident is another tier in settler activity. The military's complete helplessness in such cases explains the increase in the harassment of Palestinians.
"We demand that Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the IDF act swiftly and decisively. Things will soon spin out of control and will be much harder to contain."
Villagers also complained that the IDF also refused to open Kafr Qaddum's eastern gate, which connects to a road leading to Nablus.
"The Israelis talks about mitigations, but nothing is really being done to stop the settlers' attacks. The fact that the gate remains closed means that our way to the city is twice as long. Between the IDF and the settlers, our hardship is doubled."
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