Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan
Internal Security Minister Gilad ErdanMiriam Alster/Flash90

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan referred this afternoon (Thursday) to police efforts to break into Amona's synagogue where dozens of people are barricaded.

"The people who are barricaded in the synagogue are contemptible hooligans who desecrate Judaism and have no respect for religion, synagogue, or rabbis," tweeted Erdan, "I expect the police to act decisively to remove them."

Erdan thus provides backup to a recently released police version that highlights the wounding of five police officers during the expulsion.

The police statement said, "In the course of attempts to access the facility stones, fire extinguishers, bottles of paint, boards, and other means prepared in advance were thrown in order to harm the police and prevent the evacuation process."

Police added, "This behavior indicates that the lawbreakers do not respect the place where they are and certainly not the local leadership. We emphasize that the policy of restraint will continue as long as violent acts aimed at harming the security forces operating in the area are not committed. The police will be unrelenting against all acts of violence and bring all lawbreakers to justice."