Israel bans 12 extremists from West Bank for alleged attacks

2012-01-06 19:22:34 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEL AVIV (BNO NEWS) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday banned 12 right-wing extremists from entering the West Bank over suspicions they carried out violent attacks against Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, a spokesperson said on Friday.

The IDF issued restraining orders to the settlers, barring them from entering the West Bank for three to nine months. The Israeli army said in a statement that the Israel Security Agency gathered information that showed that the group "has been involved in leading, directing and executing violent and clandestine activity targeting" Palestinian residents and Israeli security forces in the area.

"It should be noted that the issuing of these orders derives from a specific security necessity, and after exhausting all other alternatives. These orders are a preventative measure to remove the threat by the activists in the area," an IDF spokesperson said.

Last month, dozens of right-wing activists clashed with police in the Israeli capital of Jerusalem, hours after a mosque was vandalized. The activists, some of whom were expelled from a West Bank settlement, slashed the tires and smashed the windows of several police vehicles outside a Jerusalem apartment.

The clashes took place just hours after a mosque of historical significance was set alight in central Jerusalem. Arsonists set fire to the deserted mosque and spray-painted anti-Islamic phrases and Hebrew slogans such as "Muhammad is Dead," "Muhammad is a Pig" and "Price Tag."

Before the mosque attack, 50 settlers and right-wing activists stormed a military base in the West Bank after rumors spread that the Israeli military was preparing to evict the largest outpost in the West Bank. In August, a court ruled that the state must complete the evacuation of Migron, which has a total population of 280 people, by March 31, 2012, since it was "illegally constructed on private land."

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-01-06

I think the Israeli action speaks for itself. Buried in the report was the mention of the expulsion of these people from their respective settlements. This suggests to me that the extremists views were not shared by the settlers, many of whom were not looking for confrontations and have to deal with the backlash. Interesting to note that many of these banned parties are not charged or convicted (yet).

Question: Do you think any of the usual bleaters will show up to protest this "infringement" of the banned people's right to freedom of movement ?

An off-topic post and reply have been deleted.