At the Gilad Farm, in Samaria, a large group of Arabs from the village of Farata approached the hilltop community - and then threw rocks at local security officers who had arrived to find out what they were doing there.
Until now, Arabs have been harvesting in the area peacefully for two weeks, having coordinated with the IDF and local residents.
The rock-throwing then led to a scuffle with local residents, injuring three Arabs and two Jews. Among the latter was Itai Zar, a resident of Gilad Farm and the brother of Gilad Zar, who was murdered by Arabs and for whom the farm is named.
The left-wing Rabbis for Human Rights group, which encourages international and Israeli volunteers to assist Arabs in harvesting trees adjacent to Jewish communities, issued a communiqu? last week mentioning Itai Zar by name.
The group has taken particular interest in antagonizing leaders in the hilltop movement, which has established independent farming communities on privately purchased land without help from the government-funded Yesha Council. A communiqu? in March reported, “On Monday we planted trees with the people of Jin Safut, close to the home of the Land Dealer Moshe Zar.” Owner of the land on which the farm is built as well as other parcels of land in the area, Zar is one of the legendary pioneer settlers of the Shomron.
Police agreed with residents of Gilad Farm that the Arabs should have coordinated the olive-picking as they had done in previous days. This, in order to ensure that Arab olive-harvesters are not confused with terrorists, who have launched attacks on the community in the past.
Last week, security personnel arrested a gang of Arabs on charges of cutting down more than 150 pine trees belonging to the community of Beit Haggai, just southwest of Hevron. In addition, Jewish farmers in Gush Etzion have reported a spate of fires in recent months, which have burned wheat crops as well as Jewish-owned trees.
Two weeks ago, an Arab man was apprehended infiltrating the hilltop community of Mitzpeh Yitzhar in the Shomron. Residents spotted the man attempting to set fire to one of the homes. He was arrested and claimed to be on his way to harvest olives. He was informed by the IDF that he must coordinate such activities in the future.
The Gilad Farm, know as Havat Gilad in Hebrew, was the site of one of the first clashes between residents and security forces when it was ordered demolished by the Barak government. It was subsequently rebuilt and is now home to a dozen families.
Click here to see pictures of life at Havat Gilad.
Until now, Arabs have been harvesting in the area peacefully for two weeks, having coordinated with the IDF and local residents.
The rock-throwing then led to a scuffle with local residents, injuring three Arabs and two Jews. Among the latter was Itai Zar, a resident of Gilad Farm and the brother of Gilad Zar, who was murdered by Arabs and for whom the farm is named.
The left-wing Rabbis for Human Rights group, which encourages international and Israeli volunteers to assist Arabs in harvesting trees adjacent to Jewish communities, issued a communiqu? last week mentioning Itai Zar by name.
The group has taken particular interest in antagonizing leaders in the hilltop movement, which has established independent farming communities on privately purchased land without help from the government-funded Yesha Council. A communiqu? in March reported, “On Monday we planted trees with the people of Jin Safut, close to the home of the Land Dealer Moshe Zar.” Owner of the land on which the farm is built as well as other parcels of land in the area, Zar is one of the legendary pioneer settlers of the Shomron.
Police agreed with residents of Gilad Farm that the Arabs should have coordinated the olive-picking as they had done in previous days. This, in order to ensure that Arab olive-harvesters are not confused with terrorists, who have launched attacks on the community in the past.
Last week, security personnel arrested a gang of Arabs on charges of cutting down more than 150 pine trees belonging to the community of Beit Haggai, just southwest of Hevron. In addition, Jewish farmers in Gush Etzion have reported a spate of fires in recent months, which have burned wheat crops as well as Jewish-owned trees.
Two weeks ago, an Arab man was apprehended infiltrating the hilltop community of Mitzpeh Yitzhar in the Shomron. Residents spotted the man attempting to set fire to one of the homes. He was arrested and claimed to be on his way to harvest olives. He was informed by the IDF that he must coordinate such activities in the future.
The Gilad Farm, know as Havat Gilad in Hebrew, was the site of one of the first clashes between residents and security forces when it was ordered demolished by the Barak government. It was subsequently rebuilt and is now home to a dozen families.
Click here to see pictures of life at Havat Gilad.