This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/world/middleeast/israeli-west-bank-settlement.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israeli Military Takes Over Seminary in West Bank Settlement | Israeli Military Takes Over Seminary in West Bank Settlement |
| (5 months later) | |
| JERUSALEM — The Israeli military on Friday took over a seminary known for extremism in the Jewish settlement of Yitzhar in the West Bank, moving in a company of border police troops after radical settlers clashed with soldiers and destroyed army property there over the last week. | |
| The extraordinary move came after a public outcry over the attacks on the army, and suggested the beginnings of a showdown between the Israeli authorities and violent Jewish settlers as tensions have grown in the area. | The extraordinary move came after a public outcry over the attacks on the army, and suggested the beginnings of a showdown between the Israeli authorities and violent Jewish settlers as tensions have grown in the area. |
| In recent years, extremist settlers have been attacking local Palestinians and their property, as well as the Israeli security forces deployed in large part to protect the settlers, as part of a policy the settlers call the “price tag.” The aggressive doctrine calls on settlers and their supporters to exact revenge for any army or police acts against unauthorized building in the settlement outposts and to deter the state from taking further action. | In recent years, extremist settlers have been attacking local Palestinians and their property, as well as the Israeli security forces deployed in large part to protect the settlers, as part of a policy the settlers call the “price tag.” The aggressive doctrine calls on settlers and their supporters to exact revenge for any army or police acts against unauthorized building in the settlement outposts and to deter the state from taking further action. |
| The Israeli military said in a statement that it chose to deploy troops in the seminary, the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva, “for operational reasons and because it had become a forward base for violent activities against nearby Palestinian villages and the security forces.” | The Israeli military said in a statement that it chose to deploy troops in the seminary, the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva, “for operational reasons and because it had become a forward base for violent activities against nearby Palestinian villages and the security forces.” |
| The military vowed to use all means to quash the violence. The warrant for seizing the building, signed by the commander of the West Bank, Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, is valid until June 15. | The military vowed to use all means to quash the violence. The warrant for seizing the building, signed by the commander of the West Bank, Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, is valid until June 15. |
| A spokesman for Yitzhar said in a statement to the Israeli news media that the army takeover of the yeshiva was “a hysterical and historic act, of a kind unprecedented since the establishment of the state of Israel.” | A spokesman for Yitzhar said in a statement to the Israeli news media that the army takeover of the yeshiva was “a hysterical and historic act, of a kind unprecedented since the establishment of the state of Israel.” |
| The latest string of confrontations began on Sunday, when unidentified vandals slashed the tires of an army vehicle belonging to a senior officer who was visiting Yitzhar. On Monday night, security forces demolished several unauthorized structures in a hilltop outpost and clashed with settlers who rioted in response, reportedly throwing stones and blocking roads. | The latest string of confrontations began on Sunday, when unidentified vandals slashed the tires of an army vehicle belonging to a senior officer who was visiting Yitzhar. On Monday night, security forces demolished several unauthorized structures in a hilltop outpost and clashed with settlers who rioted in response, reportedly throwing stones and blocking roads. |
| Yitzhar spokesmen told the Israeli news media that they believed that the demolitions were retaliation by the authorities and “collective punishment” after the tire-slashing episode. | Yitzhar spokesmen told the Israeli news media that they believed that the demolitions were retaliation by the authorities and “collective punishment” after the tire-slashing episode. |
| Tensions peaked early Tuesday, when dozens of radical settlers ordered a small group of reservists who were guarding the settlement to leave their post and stand aside while the settlers destroyed their tent and equipment. | Tensions peaked early Tuesday, when dozens of radical settlers ordered a small group of reservists who were guarding the settlement to leave their post and stand aside while the settlers destroyed their tent and equipment. |
| The Israeli defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, met on Thursday with security officials and representatives of the judiciary to discuss steps to contend with the violence. | The Israeli defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, met on Thursday with security officials and representatives of the judiciary to discuss steps to contend with the violence. |
| “We have to relate to these events as we do to terrorism,” Mr. Yaalon said in a statement. “We will not ignore the raising of hands against soldiers, police officers or innocent Palestinians.” | “We have to relate to these events as we do to terrorism,” Mr. Yaalon said in a statement. “We will not ignore the raising of hands against soldiers, police officers or innocent Palestinians.” |
| Yitzhar is a religious settlement of about 200 families in the northern West Bank. The Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva has a reputation as a bastion of extremism, publishing a book in 2009 co-written by one of its leaders, Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira, that offered religious justification for killing non-Jews who pose a threat to Jews, even young children who could pose a threat in the future. | Yitzhar is a religious settlement of about 200 families in the northern West Bank. The Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva has a reputation as a bastion of extremism, publishing a book in 2009 co-written by one of its leaders, Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira, that offered religious justification for killing non-Jews who pose a threat to Jews, even young children who could pose a threat in the future. |
| Yitzhar’s community rabbi, David Dudkovitz, called in an interview on Israeli television this week for all residents to abide by the law. | Yitzhar’s community rabbi, David Dudkovitz, called in an interview on Israeli television this week for all residents to abide by the law. |