According to Haaretz, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has lead a campaign to harshly punish young activists who attempt to build new Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Barak has urged police to file complaints against the young activists. While police initially argued that the activists’ “offense” did not warrant an indictment, policy has changed and approximately 20 indictments have been filed against activists over the past two months.
Barak has reportedly demanded weekly updates on the steps being taken against the young nationalists. He has called for “serial offenders” to be sentenced to time in prison.