According to Israel Police and IDF sources, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Police Chief Dudi Cohen objected to last week’s timing for the expulsion of residents of Chevron’s Bet HaShalom, as was decided upon by Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

The two preferred to continue the ongoing dialogue over making the move, which they also feared might fail. “Those in the know” quoted anonymously by the daily Yisrael HaYom report that IDF officials were furious over the objections of the two, with Barak confident the element of surprise and a display of force would prove a successful formula.

Commenting on the report, Dichter stated that his office was in total sync with the defense minister, down to the last detail, denying there was any difference of opinion concerning the operation. Dichter praised the performance of police involved, and criticized the IDF, stating the entire operation was an IDF one which was carried out solely by police.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)