Several dozen youths tried to block the entrance into Jerusalem Monday afternoon, in protest of the orders to freeze construction by Jews in the mountainous heartland of Israel. A police force succeeded in removing the youths from the road and detained five youths for questioning.
A large force of police, including Yassam special forces, broke into the community of Maaleh Levonah in the Binyamin region Monday evening. Residents reported that about 30 vehicles took part in the operation, along with specially equipped vehicles for clearing obstacles.
Earlier in the day, dozens of residents prevented inspectors who supervise the construction freeze from entering the community, by using utility poles and trash bins to block the entrance. The inspectors left the scene after the initial failure to enter and returned later with the larger forces.
Livni: 'misguided symmetry'
MK Tzipi Livni, head of the Opposition, criticized the building freeze Monday, saying that it damaged Israel's interests. Speaking at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, she addressed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and said: “When you implement the freeze on both residents of Gush Etzion and residents of illegal outposts you are creating a misguided symmetry that will weaken Israel's ability to keep the [settlement] blocs in the permanent arrangement.”
"The settlers who are not within the blocs need to be told the truth and a wide Israeli agreement needs to be created around that. Most of the public knows the truth but the leadership is afraid.”
Elements in Kadima added Monday that “the first Prime Minister to place a question mark on the settlement blocs is the last one who can talk about creating a consensus. Kadima proved in deeds that it is possible to conduct a real negotiation for peace, safeguard Israel's security interests and secure the international support for settlement blocs in any future permanent arrangement.”