Beit El residents have erected a new civilian outpost at the T-junction, a few hundred meters south of where terrorists murdered 31-year-old Assaf Hershkovitz earlier this week. Soldiers are stationed there as well, and at two other locations between there and Ofrah, in reaction to the murder of the Ofrah resident. Three large steel freight containers and a bus-turned-apartment have been brought to the T-junction, and a large tent has been set up to house the guards. Former Peace Now leader Mossi Raz, now a Meretz MK, called upon the army to immediately evacuate the Jews. His party leader, Yossi Sarid, later said that the outpost represents a \"new settlement\" and must be dismantled.
A heavy gunfire battle is raging this afternoon about four kilometers to the east, at the Ayosh Junction, between Beit El and Ramallah. Similar Palestinian-initiated attacks are a frequent Friday afternoon occurrence, although not usually as intensely as today\'s battle.