3 cops injured by stone-throwing revelers at illegal West Bank wedding

Over 100 in attendance at gathering outside northern West Bank settlement, in violation of health guidelines that cap crowds at 20; 4 suspects arrested

By ToI Staff 12 February 2021, 5:52 pm

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A police vehicle stoned by participants at an illegal wedding near the Itamar settlement on February 11, 2020, and one of the officers who was lightly injured while breaking up the gathering. (Israel Police)

Three police officers were injured late Thursday night while trying to break up a wedding outside a northern West Bank settlement that was being held in violation of coronavirus restrictions.

Dozens of guests at the wedding outside Itamar hurled stones and other objects at officers dispatched to the scene, police said. Over 100 guests were in attendance. Current health guidelines cap outdoor gatherings at 20 people.

Party-goers also punctured tires and shattered windows of the police vehicles at the scene.

As the situation escalated, additional forces were called in and the gathering was dispersed.

The injured police officers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of light wounds.

The Samaria Regional Council, which has jurisdiction over the area, issued a statement condemning the incident while noting that the wedding participants had not been from Itamar and that the settlement’s residents had been the ones who called police.