The IDF installed the iron gate Thursday afternoon near the community of Shaveh Shomron, which will be close to Palestinian Authority (PA) territory if the government implements its plan to dismantle four Jewish towns and expel their residents.
Families from Sa-Nur and Homesh, two of the four towns, and from Shaveh Shomron, fear the army intended to use the barrier to restrict access to the area by opponents of the expulsion.
Earlier in the day, Sa-Nur prevented the tenth attempt of Disengagement Authority director Yonatan Bassi to enter the town. Bassi arrived with a large contingent of police and soldiers, but the residents locked the gate to the community. On a previous occasion, the army forced open the gate and several residents were dragged away and injured in a fracas. Thursday's attempted visit ended without incident, and Bassi turned back.
Sa-Nur administrator Yossi Dagan said that Bassi assumed incorrectly that the community would not continue to oppose his entering.
Families from Sa-Nur and Homesh, two of the four towns, and from Shaveh Shomron, fear the army intended to use the barrier to restrict access to the area by opponents of the expulsion.
Earlier in the day, Sa-Nur prevented the tenth attempt of Disengagement Authority director Yonatan Bassi to enter the town. Bassi arrived with a large contingent of police and soldiers, but the residents locked the gate to the community. On a previous occasion, the army forced open the gate and several residents were dragged away and injured in a fracas. Thursday's attempted visit ended without incident, and Bassi turned back.
Sa-Nur administrator Yossi Dagan said that Bassi assumed incorrectly that the community would not continue to oppose his entering.