IDF Central Command chief blasts reservists who vandalized Palestinian village, settlers who set fire to cop car

The chief of the IDF Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth slams acts of vandalism by reservist soldiers in a Palestinian village and the arson of a police cruiser by settlers this week.

“We are working well amid Ramadan, which is going by quietly, but we have irregular incidents,” Bluth said to troops yesterday.

“Unfortunately, the activities of our reserve troops in Deheisha are not what we expect — vandalism, graffiti, during operational activity, this is an unacceptable event,” he says.

Photos taken by Palestinian residents in Deheisha near Bethlehem on Thursday showed the defacement of walls by Israeli soldiers, including Stars of David graffitied over Arabic slogans.

“It is inconceivable that IDF soldiers do not follow their commanders’ instructions. We are determined to stop this phenomenon, we will act harshly in this matter,” Bluth says.

Overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, dozens of settlers at a wedding near Kochav Hashachar attacked police responding to a noise complaint. The settlers hurled stones at the officers and set fire to their vehicle.

“Besides this crossing a red line, and it will be treated severely, there is no greater ingratitude than this,” Bluth says on the burning of the police car.