Zamir condems settler attacks on troops as he speaks to assaulted battalion commander

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir condemns the attack by settlers against soldiers in the West Bank last night, while speaking with the commander of the Binyamin Regional Brigade’s 7114th Battalion, who was assaulted, the military says.

Zamir also spoke with the commander of the Binyamin Brigade.

“The chief of staff stated that he fully supports the conduct and actions of the battalion and brigade, and strongly condemns any harm to IDF soldiers, including reservist fighters who operate with a sense of mission and personal sacrifice,” the military says in a statement.

“The battalion operated last night to disperse Israeli civilians who had entered a closed military zone near Kafr Malik, and violently attacked the force,” the IDF says.

“The IDF and its soldiers face many challenges. The undermining of the rule of law and the use of violence by a radical minority harms security and stability in the area,” the statement adds.

The battalion commander had been filmed amid the incident, telling the settlers, “We are here all day every day instead of looking after civilians, because of you.”

The incident began last night after a group of at least seven settlers gathered at an illegal outpost near Kafr Malik. A short while later, another 70 Israelis arrived at the area, according to an IDF investigation.

The IDF dispatched troops and police officers to the scene, as the area is a closed military zone, and days earlier, settlers had attacked the nearby village.

The group then began to attack the forces, hurling stones at them. The security forces responded with riot dispersal means, injuring one Israeli with a sponge grenade, the IDF says.

Shortly before midnight, the settlers physically assaulted the commanders at the scene, including choking and beating one. No soldiers required hospitalization.

The settlers also slashed the tires of a police cruiser at the same time.

Half an hour later, a vehicle with several Israelis in it tried to ram security forces, while a group of some 30 settlers again hurled stones at the forces.

The soldiers in this case responded with live fire in the air.

Simultaneously, five vehicles driven by the settlers intentionally rammed into an army vehicle that was blocking the road. The IDF says damage was caused to the vehicle, but there were no injuries.

Later, overnight, another IDF vehicle was vandalized, with the tires slashed, and a Molotov cocktail was hurled at a different army car. No injuries were caused, but damage was caused to both vehicles, according to the military.

Six suspects were detained and handed over to police amid the incidents.