IDF soldiers and police tried to evict Jewish pioneers from Homesh after the start of the Jewish Sabbath Friday evening, and again immediately upon the Sabbath's end Saturday night. The eviction attempts on Friday ended at around 7 p.m., almost two hours after the Sabbath began.

The Homesh First organizers claimed that security forces used a new weapon against them: hunger. The organizers said that when the soldiers realized their attempt to evict the pioneers had failed, their commanders gave orders to confiscate all of the food that had been intended for the Sabbath meals, leaving dozens of people with almost no food.

A few minutes after the Sabbath ended, security forces again tried to clear the Jews from the hilltop. Four people were arrested and taken away.

Eviction on Sabbath

The Homesh First leadership said that most of the recent evictions were carried out on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. "We know with certainty that there are explicit orders to evict the people of Homesh on the Sabbath and holidays," they stated. During the shiva (seven-day mourning period) for Ido Zoldan, an order was given to evict the pioneers at the onset of Sabbath.  

"It is scandalous that the security forces confiscate food," the Homesh First group said. "We blame the various parties for not making their voices heard, and the Chief Military Rabbi, who has done nothing to put an end to this phenomenon."

IDF: We Had no Choice

Sources in Central Command told Arutz Sheva Saturday night that the IDF had no choice but to evict the residents because of the fact that there are security alerts in the area, and also because they had entered a closed military area. The sources said that the pioneers usually climb to Homesh about 30 minutes before the Sabbath begins, and that is why the evictions take place on Saturday.

Regarding the confiscation of food, the sources said the soldiers had not intended to take the food specifically, but had been after the pioneers' "general equipment" due to the fact that it was forbidden to stay there.

The IDF spokesman said Saturday night: "The security forces arrived yesterday to evacuate the citizens, and since [the pioneers] scattered, the forces took the equipment that they left behind."