Seventeen protesters indicted for demonstration against Israeli demolitions in the West Bank

Seventeen protesters indicted for demonstration against Israeli demolitions in the West Bank

2011-03-02 00:52:15 GMT+7 (ICT)

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BNO NEWS) -- A Jerusalem court on Tuesday indicted 17 right-wing protesters for staging a demonstration against the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) demolition of an unauthorized settlement in the West Bank.

According to the Haaretz newspaper, the protesters were arrested and charged with disturbing peace, attacking police officers and damaging police vehicles. Seven of the detainees were minors.

On Monday, IDF service members arrived at the Havat Gilad outpost to demolish three structures at the unauthorized West Bank settlement. Residents and security forces engaged in violent clashes which left at least 13 settlers injured.

The alleged excessive use of force by IDF agents sparked the fury of approximately 100 right-wing young activists who gathered on Jerusalem's Begin Road and throw burning tires into traffic.

Police requested that the 17 detainees should be released only with court-ordered restraining orders that would prevent them from entering Jerusalem. In addition, Judea and Samaria police is investigating the incidents in Havat Gilad.

"We can not let citizens take the law into their hands. These disturbances damage the rule of law in the country," said Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "These are actions carried out by small groups whose behavior is inappropriate and we will continue to deal the problem."

Overall, security forces detained 25 people on Monday. However, eight settlers were released later without indictments but with a restraining order from Jerusalem. Protesters alleged that police used rubber bullets to disperse the residents.

Police said that officers fired paintball guns in accordance with the rules of engagement and as a response to the stones thrown at them by the settlers. Security forces also claimed that residents had knives and other instruments which could be used for stabbing.

The Havat Gilad outpost is home to several dozen settlers and has been evacuated twice by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the past. The outpost is located in the Samaria Regional Council area.

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