“These rioters have already injured over 100 soldiers over the years, including a soldier who lost his eye,” Bennett stated.
By Aryeh Savir, TPS
Israel’s Defense Minister Naftali Bennett on Saturday instructed the IDF to issue restraining orders against pro-Palestinian anarchists who have engaged in violence against IDF soldiers and ban them from acting in Judea and Samaria.
In his decision, Bennett noted the reoccurring riots at the Arab towns of Bil’in Na’alin, Nabi Salah and Kadum, headed by the Israeli Jonathan Polak, who is currently in police custody after being charged for assault on IDF soldiers.
“These rioters have already injured over 100 soldiers over the years, including a soldier who lost his eye,” Bennett stated.
“These violent incidents are aimed at agitating the area and causing damage to property and damage to IDF soldiers, along with serious diplomatic damage to the State of Israel in the world,” he added.
He further noted that “for some reason,” such orders have so far been issued only against right-wing activists.
“Now they will also be directed against violent pro-Palestinian rioters. I put an end to this bizarre discrimination,” he stated.
“We will work hard against anyone who acts violently against our soldiers,” he concluded.
Anti-Israel anarchists from Israel and around the world routinely arrive at potential flashpoints in the Judea and Samaria region and provoke riots against Israeli security forces stationed in the area.
These incidents are often documented by the anarchists, who then disseminate doctored footage of the confrontations, depicting IDF soldiers as cruel oppressors carrying out wanton assaults on the local population.
The Zionist organization Im Tirtzu, which runs a project aimed at exposing far-left activists who harass IDF soldiers, welcomed the decision.
“Radical left-wing activists from Israel and abroad film and harass IDF soldiers on a daily basis in order to create a campaign of delegitimization against the IDF and Israel. Im Tirtzu will continue to stand up for IDF soldiers and combat the pernicious activities of all those who seek to harm them,” it stated.