English

Following Wednesday's [16 February] events near the village Twaneh (in which members of Operation Dove and CPT were once again severely attacked by settlers, while trying to protect Palestinian shepherds from residents of the Ma'on Farm outpost), details, the South Hebron committee decided to show it's solidarity and arrive at the spot were the event took place. A small group of less than 10 activists arrived in Twaneh on Thursday morning to meet its partners - the Palestinian residents and the international activists. Few soldiers were in the place, claiming that the area is closed, but failed to present any printed order. The group went on while the army was trying to prevent them from herding their sheep on their
lands. Since it was hard to actually stop the scattered group the army and police started making arrests (by that time more soldiers and police officers arrived at the place). One Palestinian resident was arrested and one Israeli activist was detained.
The activist was later punched in the face by a policemean of the West Bank police/intelligence. Only then the closed military zone order was presented to the people.After a few hours in the Hebron police station the Israeli activist who was
detained was let go. The release of the Palestinian shepherd was a different matter. Apparently, the fact that unlike the Israeli activist arrested at the same spot, the shepherd was trespassing on his own land, made his offense more severe. the release of the Shepherd required another few hours and 3000 shekels bail (in cash!). He is facing trial in Ofer military court
on April 19 (they are so efficient!) Also, one settler who is suspected to be part of Wednesday's attack was
arrested on Thursday but with our sad experience we know that this will not even diminish the ongoing violence by the settlers of this region.
Herzl Shabiro, commander of the Police Investigation Unit, laments as he tries to explain the miserable results of his unit. Read Gideon Alon's article, Ha'aretz, 21 February 2005
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