A number of police officers were injured Sunday when security forces assigned to evict settlers from a number of buildings in the Samaria settlement of Tapuach West overnight Saturday encountered violent resistance from several hundred youths.
The eviction was ordered following a court ruling that the 10 structures had been illegally erected on privately owned Palestinian land.
In a statement, the Israel Police reported that a combined force of police and Border Police, tasked with evicting the settlers from the buildings slated for demolition, "encountered active, unusual resistance that included throwing irritants in the eyes of police, and pouring bleach and throwing sticks, eggs, and other items on the security forces."
"As of [Sunday] morning, 11 officers have been injured as a result of violence and so far, six suspects have been arrested for attacking police and for violent rioting," the police statement said.
The Honenu legal defense group said that overnight Saturday, over 40 teens – boys and girls – had been evacuated from the buildings and detained. They were transported to the settlement of Ofra, where they were released without being questioned.
Another 10 or so youngsters were arrested at various intersections on the road leading to the settlement of Kfar Tapuach. According to Honenu, all were released but one, a minor, who was taken in for questioning.
Before the evacuation, the head of the Shomron Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, urged Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman to halt the planned eviction and demolition, saying that the land in question had been "transferred to state land status falling outside the High Court of Justice's jurisdiction."
"Don't persecute the settlers who have already relocated their homes," Dagan pleaded with Lieberman. "This evacuation is voluntary and unnecessary."
