Israeli officer: 45% of the army’s activity in the West Bank is focused on confronting settler crimes

Tel Aviv - Ofek News - A senior Israeli army officer said that between 30% and 45% of the activities of the army brigades in the Central Command are focused on dealing with “national crimes” committed by settlers, at the expense of thwarting Palestinian operations, according to what was reported by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority “Kan”.

The officer added that the army is working to establish an additional specialized border guard company, with the aim of strengthening the forces in confronting "national crimes" committed by settlers, and it is expected to begin its work next month, after Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir took a decision to create it.

In a related context, a senior army officer said, in an interview with the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, that “Rabbi Dov Lior’s fatwa provides support for looting and illegal activities.”

Lior had issued a fatwa yesterday permitting the theft of olives from Palestinian orchards in the West Bank, claiming that “the Arabs never bought the land, and it was stolen from them.”

He considered that this practice represents an obligation aimed at “demonstrating ownership of the land,” and that it is desirable because of “the security risks associated with Arabs approaching settlements.”

The occupation army stressed that the violent attacks that occurred over the weekend took place in areas classified as B, indicating that the initiators were settlers.

Earlier today, settlers attacked European diplomats and Palestinian farmers who were participating in the olive harvest season in the town of Taybeh, near Ramallah.

Among the diplomats were representatives of France, including the French consul in Tel Aviv, in addition to Belgian and Polish diplomats, while the settlers smashed the window of a car belonging to the Belgian consulate.

Another incident sparked an international wave of condemnation yesterday, after settlers attacked Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levin during confrontations with Palestinian farmers while picking olives near the village of Khirbet Abu Falah in the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate.

Levine was taken to the hospital to receive treatment, while forces from the occupation army arrived at the scene and opened an investigation into the incident. The army quickly condemned the attack, saying that “harming innocent people and violence against them is a phenomenon that cannot be tolerated.”