8:03AM EST / 15:03 IL: (UPDATES & PHOTO LINK IN EXTENDED ARTICLE) IDF and border police forces a short time ago have begun the eviction of the residents of the Bet HaShalom in Chevron.
The army has sealed off the area, preventing any supporters from making their way to the building or Chevron. According to initial reports, at least 20 civilians and security forces have been injured.
Security forces are using teargas and other riot-control adjuncts to restore order.
UPDATE 8:12AM EST / 15:15 IL: At least one Chevron resident is reported in serious condition with a head injury. Most of the others appear to be in light condition.
The very large security force is operating and teargas is being used freely to evict Jews from the home. Only police seem to be actually removing Jews from Bet HaShalom, not soldiers.
MDA Emergency Medical Service officials report they have moved to a level 3 operating status in Yerushalayim, the organization’s highest, fearing widespread violence. At this time, the entrance to Jerusalem is being blocked at present by some 100 youths, who have entered the street, the entrance from the Jerusalem – Tel Aviv Highway.
A MDA chopper is heading to Chevron to evacuate the wounded. A number of ambulances are trying to enter the area, but are being stopped by security forces hurling gas and stun grenades.
At present according to Baruch Marzel, the injured are not being cared for. EMS officials are being prevented from entering the area. Marzel adds that gunfire can be heard and it appears the move by security troops has signaled the Arabs to renew their attacks against Jews as well.
Marzel states the situation is considerably worse than Amona, “ten times worse” decrying the indiscriminate use of force by security forces, adding that he personally saw innocent Jewish girls “mishandled” by security troops as well as “murderous blows” delivered to unarmed civilians.
UPDATE 8:18AM EST / 15:18 IL: Chevron Arabs are responding to the security forces who are evicting Jews by force and have begun bombarding everyone in the area with rocks, standing on rooftops and pelting civilians and security forces below with rocks indiscriminately.
UPDATE 8:20AM EST / 15:20 IL: Despite pleas from the parents of the Holtzberg Kedoshim, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has ordered the brutal eviction of the residents of Bet HaShalom during the shiva. The parents asked that he avoid additional mourning while the nation is united over the attack in Mumbai.
Two helicopters are now responding to Chevron. It appears there are a number of people with head and suspected spinal injuries, in moderate or more serious condition.
Many of the hundreds of residents and supporters of Bet HaShalom have already been removed from Bet HaShalom while the operation continues.
From the eyewitness accounts received by YWN, security forces are acting with unprecedented brutal force against civilians, with total disregard to human rights and dignity.
UPDATE 8:37AM EST / 15:37 IL: Bet HaShalom in Chevron has been emptied of its residents and supporters and it is now in control of Yassam and other forces. Encounters are still ongoing outside the building between security forces and civilians. All roadways heading to Chevron have been closed.
Shas leader Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai condemned the move, accusing Barak of acting today, during the Labor Party primaries, to advance his position among party voters.
Settlement Council leader Danny Dayan lamented the use of brutal force, emphasizing if Barak would have been willing to listen, the evacuation could have been accomplished without the use of force.
UPDATE 8:45AM EST / 15:45 IL: MDA EMS technicians, Hatzolah medics and IDF medical personnel are operating in Chevron to treat the wounded. At least some of the wounded are soldiers. At this stage, it appears most of the approximately 20 injured sustained light injuries only Baruch Hashem. It is not possible at this time to verify earlier reports that at least one person was seriously wounded.
In Jerusalem, the entrance to the city from Highway 1, the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway, is blocked as about 100 protestors are intentionally blocking the roadway in a spontaneous reaction to the Chevron eviction. Arrests are being made at this time. At least six people are in custody. Police report that protestors are throwing rocks in the area.
The Bet HaShalom is indeed under control of security forces. They received the order to move in at about 2:32pm local time, completing the eviction in under one hour. According to preliminary reports, there were no weapons found in the building, discounting the ominous reports spread by Barak and others. An estimated 300 people were evicted from the building by about 1,000 security forces.
Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) is reporting one of the injured, in his 50s, was transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, reported in light condition.
UPDATE 8:51AM EST / 15:51 IL: Kiryat Arba’s newly elected mayor, Malachi Levinger, a son of Chevron’s modern day founder Rav Moshe Levinger Shlita, expressed anger and frustration over the expulsion, explaining that just yesterday he was speaking with Defense Ministry officials in the hope of preventing a violent scene like the one taking place today. He vowed that the residents and supporters will return to the building.
An MDA official told YWN-ISRAEL that one of the injured is listed in moderate condition, transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. A second victim was transported in an IDF chopper. His condition is unclear but one may assume it is more serious, hence the decision to deploy a chopper. MDA officials are presently evaluating the situation.
UPDATE 8:56AM EST / 15:56 IL: It appears that one person, a soldier or policeman, is in moderate-to-serious condition. According to unconfirmed reports, some type of caustic substance was thrown in his face/eye.
A civilian is also reported in serious condition with a head injury according to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio).
MK Prof. Aryeh Eldad decried the action, explaining that Barak acted solely to advance his own political considerations, seeking to save his failed political career.
Eldad explained that near Kiryat Arba there is a shul, Chazon Dovid, which the government regards an “illegal outpost”. He explains security forces removed it 35 times and Chevron residents rebuilt it 36 times. “Unless Barak plans to leave a regiment in the building, the residents and supporters will only return. It was pointless and wicked, to personally advance his agenda.” Eldad stressed Barak knows that an agreement would have been reached through dialogue but today’s actions served his own interests, prompting him to order the eviction.
UPDATE 9:10AM EST / 16:10 IL: Black acrid smoke may be seen in the valley between Chevron and Kiryat Arba, the result of burning tires as security forces attempt to restore order. Despite reports to the contrary, it does not appear that a soldier was injured in his face with acid Baruch Hashem. We can only hope this is the case.
According to officials in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital’s emergency room, they are treating one person from Chevron who is listed in moderate condition.
UPDATE 9:15AM EST / 16:10 IL: A number of paramedics wearing kippot (yarmulkes) have been prohibited from entering the confrontation area. Security officials report they feared the paramedics were imposters seeking to get in to assist.
In the meantime, Jews have returned to Bet Shapira, which was the targeted of a government eviction months ago, as well as entering a number of stores in the marketplace in Chevron. They entered Bet Shapira on Wednesday as well, but were ousted by security forces a short time later.
IDF Central District Commander Major-General Gadi Shamni has declared all of Yehuda (Judea) a ‘closed military zone’ to prevent any and all non-residents from entering.
UPDATE (BRIEFS) 9:20AM EST / 16:20 IL: *10 protestors were arrested at the entrance to Jerusalem on Thursday afternoon. One policewoman lightly injured.
*Nadia Matar, the co-chairwoman of Women in Green, was lightly injured in the Bet HaShalom eviction and transported to a hospital.
*On his way to Chevron on Thursday afternoon, MK Uri Ariel tells he contacted DM Barak during the Bet HaShalom eviction and asked that he halt the violent action. He reports Barak refused. He told Barak that he will be personally responsible for the violence and injuries.
*Disturbances reported in Shomron at Maale Shomron, Karnei Shomron and Shilo Junction. Jews are reported to be blocking roads and throwing rocks at Arabs (Channel 10).
*Arabs in Shomron accuse Yishuv Yitzhar residents of attacking them following Bet HaShalom expulsion.
*A MDA ambulance was damaged in a rock-throwing attack by Arabs on its way to Chevron on Thursday afternoon.
*Chevron Police Commander Avshalom Peled stated the eviction was well thought out and planned out, boasting the building was evacuated in an expeditious fashion with only moderate force and six arrests. He states a total of seven people were injured, 5 settlers and 2 security personnel. He called the actions of occupants and supporters of the building during recent days “irresponsible and dangerous”.
*Arabs reporting a resident was seriously wounded by gunfire. No confirmation or additional details at this time.
*Daniela Weiss has been served with an administrative order barring her from entering Yehuda for one month’s time.
UPDATE 10:05AM EST / 17:05 IL: Police/IDF Bracing for Unrests Throughout Yehuda & Shomron
*Hadassah Hospital (Ein Kerem) – six injured included a border policeman who appears to have been hit in the face with flour, not a caustic substance. He is listed in light-to-moderate condition.
*Shaare Zedek Hospital: Nadia Matar and another person are being treated, both in light condition.
*Chevron has a large Arab population which is very pro-Hamas. Channel 10 news reports some community activists say “we are not afraid of the Jews any longer.
*An Arab home in Chevron was set ablaze. Two Arabs reported wounded by “settler gunfire” (unconfirmed).
*Police are concerned regarding possible widespread Islamic violence following Friday religious services in mosques, especially in Chevron.
*Despite a hospital report that the police officer was injured with flour and not a caustic substance,the mainstream media continues to report the brutal attack by settlers against security forces.
UPDATE 10:40AM EST / 17:40 IL: While reports are yet unconfirmed, security authorities are reporting approximately 10 Arabs homes are ablaze in Chevron and the immediate area.
In addition, there are reports of Arab gunfire against Jews in Chevron. There are no immediate reports of injuries.
In the Benjamin Regional Council area, near N’vei Tzuf, protestors opposing the expulsion have closed down an area road.
Security forces weld shut the doors to Bet HaShalom……
There are now reports of three injured people being treated in Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim with one listed in light-to-moderate condition. The others are in light condition.
Security forces are taking up position in the greater Chevron area in the hope of preventing a flare-up of attacks.
UPDATE 10:42 EST / 17:42 IL: Arabs fired at border police guarding Bet HaShalom. No injuries being reported.
UPDATE 10:52AM EST / 17:52 IL: Eretz Yisrael Faithful are blocking traffic at Shilat Jct. on Hwy 443 in the Modi’in area as protests to Bet Shalom eviction continue.
UPDATE 11:00AM EST / 18:00 IL: Soldiers use live gunfire above the head of Jews blocking the road near Kedumim in Shomron.
UPDATE 11:03AM EST / 18:03 IL: A border policeman and IDF soldier were lightly injured by rocks thrown by Jews at Chawarah Junction in Shomron.
UPDATE 11:05AM EST / 18:05: PA: Father and son seriously wounded by gunfire in Chevron. No IDF confirmation at this time.
PHOTO LINK: (Click HERE for photos taken at the eviction & click HERE for photos taken at the “Peace House” yesterday by Refael Ovadia / Boltshauser Images)
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)