The marching activists were met by police and IDF soldiers, who attempted to prevent their entry into Bethlehem. Three women were arrested, including Yehudit Katzover, the wife of Kiryat Arba Mayor Tzvi Katzover. Nonetheless, dozens of youth made it to Rachel's Tomb by digging under the fence surrounding the site at a spot 500 meters from the main access road to the city. The digging was made possible, according to activists who spoke with Arutz Sheva, thanks to a simple diversion of the security personnel sent to stop the procession.
In addition to demonstrating what they see as the pointlessness of security fences and walls, the activists were protesting against the restrictions on Jews to move freely in Judea and Samaria, and in particular to the sanctified burial site of the Biblical matriarch Rachel. As of now, the IDF permits only armored vehicles to make the trip into Bethlehem to reach the famous tomb.
Co-chairperson of Women in Green, Nadia Matar, among the organizers of the march-protest, said on Wednesday, "Again today it was proven how stupid the fences and walls are. If, despite the huge numbers of security forces that were there, they did not manage to discover that dozens of youths were crossing the fence unimpeded, then what good is the fence altogether?"
Matar added that Land of Israel loyalists demand that the government put an end to the "policy of fences and walls" and allow all Jews to walk freely anywhere in the Land of Israel. "The time has come to put an end to the policy of armored vehicles and allow Jews to march or drive in a regular car to Rachel's Tomb, as is appropriate for Jews living in their own country," the Women in Green leader said.
Later in the evening, the three women activists were released on bail by the Jerusalem police department. The Kol Rina news service reported that the activists were beaten by the arresting officers, members of the police's special riot-control unit.
In addition to demonstrating what they see as the pointlessness of security fences and walls, the activists were protesting against the restrictions on Jews to move freely in Judea and Samaria, and in particular to the sanctified burial site of the Biblical matriarch Rachel. As of now, the IDF permits only armored vehicles to make the trip into Bethlehem to reach the famous tomb.
Co-chairperson of Women in Green, Nadia Matar, among the organizers of the march-protest, said on Wednesday, "Again today it was proven how stupid the fences and walls are. If, despite the huge numbers of security forces that were there, they did not manage to discover that dozens of youths were crossing the fence unimpeded, then what good is the fence altogether?"
Matar added that Land of Israel loyalists demand that the government put an end to the "policy of fences and walls" and allow all Jews to walk freely anywhere in the Land of Israel. "The time has come to put an end to the policy of armored vehicles and allow Jews to march or drive in a regular car to Rachel's Tomb, as is appropriate for Jews living in their own country," the Women in Green leader said.
Later in the evening, the three women activists were released on bail by the Jerusalem police department. The Kol Rina news service reported that the activists were beaten by the arresting officers, members of the police's special riot-control unit.