Gantz blasts settlers who attacked forces evacuating illegal West Bank outpost: ‘A red line’

National Unity leader Benny Gantz strongly criticizes extremist settlers who attacked Israeli security personnel during an operation to evacuate the illegal West Bank outpost of Tzur Harel.

“Throwing stones and injuring our security forces – [that is] a red line,” says Gantz in a statement to the press following violent scenes.

He calls on all cabinet ministers to condemn the incident and for the rioters to be prosecuted.

“The people of Israel deserve a government that supports its soldiers and police officers,” adds Gantz.

In contrast, MK Limor Son Har Melech of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party accuses the Border Police of violence against the settler activists at Tzur Harel, and says she is “outraged” by the incident.

“Instead of protecting brave Jewish settlers who are fulfilling the Zionist vision, the defense minister and General Yehuda Fox are working against them with excessive violence,” she says, referring to the head of the IDF’s Central Command, which has responsibility for the West Bank.

She also blames Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for failing to stop the demolition of Tzur Harel, in his additional role as minister in the Defense Ministry where he has broad powers over civilian affairs in the West Bank through a Settlements Administration set up within the ministry.

“I know how important the settlements are to Minister Smotrich, and because of that I am astonished and demand that he halt the demolition and direct all the resources of the Settlements Administration to expand and develop the settlements,” says Son Har Melech.

Neither Smotrich nor National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has responsibility for the Police and Border Police, have commented on the incident.

The Border Police says in a statement: “Border Police forces carried out the evacuation in accordance with a decision by the IDF and the Civil Administration. The officers encountered violence, stone throwing, burning tires and a burning car, and the throwing of Molotov cocktails. The officers used crowd dispersal methods.”