Fifty people were wounded during the violent eviction of Jews from the Peace House in Hevron on Thursday. Most of the wounded were in light condition, and 35 did not require hospitalization. The remainder were taken to the Hadassa Ein Karem and Sha'arei Tzedek hospitals in Jerusalem.
Only three of the wounded were police officers. The three were in light condition. Two Peace House protesters were moderately wounded, one with head wounds.
Senior police officials said one officer was badly hurt in an acid attack, but the report was later proven to be false.
One of the wounded protesters was Nadia Matar, head of the Women in Green. Matar spoke with reporters from her hospital bed on Thursday night and promised to return to the Peace House within 24 hours. "All of Israel is invited to come to the Peace House for Shabbat... We'll be there by tomorrow," she said.
Soldiers: We Refused Orders
A group of soldiers in the Haruv battalion announced Thursday that they had been ordered to take part in the expulsion, but had refused to do so. “We told our commanders that we didn't enlist in the IDF in order to expel Jews, and we won't take part in an operation that hurts Jews... The commanders understood that they had no choice,” one soldier explained.
According to the soldiers, the commanders gave in and decided Haruv soldiers would not be involved in the Peace House eviction. IDF spokesmen denied the soldiers' report.
Livni, Barak, Olmert Praise Operation
Kadima head Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert all praised the operation on Thursday evening. “There's no happiness in what we saw today... but the process was correct. The operation was necessary, and it is good that it was performed,” Livni said.
"There's no place and will be no place for citizens to feel they can do whatever they please,” she added. “The government of Israel is a law-abiding government and will enforce the law.”
Olmert praised security forces for their “swift and effective performance” during the expulsion. “We will not allow anyone to undermine democracy and the rule of law,” he said.
Barak said the government had passed a test by successfully forcing Jews from the Peace House building. “What stood the test is the state's ability to enforce its laws and its authority over the citizens,” he said.
Barak said the timing of the operation was unrelated to the fact that the Labor party he heads held its primary elections at the same time. “That question is unworthy of an answer,” he told a reporter who questioned the operation's timing. “The question may have its source in current politics, but my behavior does not,” he added.
Families Allowed to Gather Belongings
IDF spokesmen announced Thursday evening that families residing in the Peace House would be allowed to collect their belongings at some point on Thursday night. Each family was to send representatives, under police escort, to collect what remains in the building. In the event, however, this was permitted only on Friday afternoon.