Clashes in Samaria as Israeli forces drag Jewish youth from home

Attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir accused the authorities of employing torture tactics in extricating Zarog, posting a video on Twitter to back up his accusation.

By World Israel News Staff 

Violence erupted again on Sunday in the area of the Israeli community of Yitzhar.

Three members of the Israel Police were reported injured when stones were thrown at them, according to Kan Israel public radio.

Clashes have been taking place between Israeli security forces and activists trying to expand the Israeli presence in Judea and Samaria.

In the aftermath of Sunday’s clashes, three people were said to have been detained by police.

The latest violent protests erupted as police arrested Yitzhar resident Neriya Zarog.

Several weeks ago, IDF Central District Commander Major-General Nadav Padan issued an administrative order against Zarog, distancing him from his home in the community and almost all of Judea and Samaria on the grounds that he was an instigator in confrontations with security forces. However, Zarog has refused to adhere to the military order.

He barricaded himself inside a structure and chained himself to it. On Sunday, the Israeli forces managed to take the structure apart and apprehend Zarog.

At the center of the campaign to expand Israeli construction are young nationalists who are often referred to as “Hilltop Youth” and whose objective is to claim vacant land not appearing to be owned by Arabs in order to construct new Israeli neighborhoods.

Members of this group reportedly tried to block security forces from getting to where Zarog was barricaded.

“Protesters near the house have been injured by police brutality,” charged the Honenu legal defense group.

Attorney Itamar Ben Gvir, who ran in the last elections as head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, accused the authorities of employing torture tactics in extricating Zarog, posting a video on Twitter to back up his accusation.

“Zarog’s condition is not known,” said Honenu.

Israeli officials refer to makeshift communities that have not received government approval as “unauthorized outposts.”

Yitzhar is a full-fledged recognized community. Located in the area is an outpost called Komi Ori, where clashes were reported on Friday night as well as on other occasions.

Residents of the outpost charged that Border Police attacked them for no reason. Police responded by stating that the outpost is illegal and that those inside were guilty of trespassing, in violation of a closed military zone which had been declared by the IDF.

Tensions have existed for years between Yitzhar residents and Israeli security forces.