News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Activists from the group “Women in Blue and White” spoke to Arutz Sheva on Thursday about their experiences with the extreme-left group “Machsom Watch.”  Machsom Watch harasses soldiers at checkpoints, they said, and has the funding to maintain a constant presence in many areas.  The activists expressed frustration, saying that while soldiers felt pressured and intimidated by the group, the IDF command supported Machsom Watch and failed to support the soldiers.

Activists brought examples of soldiers who were ordered not to conduct security checks on certain vehicles after Machsom Watch intervened.  The group’s activities are actually illegal, they said, as civilians are not allowed to interfere in security activities.  However, they said, when police once arrested a Machsom Watch volunteer for interfering in security checks, a judge released the volunteer and reprimanded the police. 

The police support the soldiers against Machsom Watch, but feel there is little they can do, the activists said.  Activists said they had discussed the matter with members of the Knesset’s security council, but that MK Yossi Beilin of the leftist Meretz party rejected their testimony.