Just a few weeks after Israeli troops pulled out of remote Arab population centers in the administered territories, the Israel Defense Force has decided to redeploy soldiers in those areas.
The recent cut in the deployment of IDF forces in the territories reflected a change of policy, with soldiers staying out of villages where the intifada did not affect daily life and did not interrupt traffic on the main roads.
However, as a result of the cut in forces, those villages declared “independence” and stepped-up nationalist activities.
Activities included parades in broad daylight of the self-declared “popular army” and an increased number of murders of alleged collaborators with the authorities.
In some cases, members of the popular committees placed roadblocks at the entrances of villages, appointing security officers to check those entering the villages and setting up “interrogation cells.”
Subsequently, the IDF reviewed its policy of staying out of remote villages. It decided this week to go back to the old routine of surprise raids on villages, with the purpose of arresting nationalist activists and preventing any expressions of “independence” such as nationalist wall slogans and the raising of Palestinian flags.
The security forces now believe that the “disengagement” of forces led to recent stepped-up violence. Some villages have come totally under the control of the Palestinian popular committees.
Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin admitted Tuesday that “the balance of fear in the territories works in favor of leaders of the intifada,” when local residents must choose between their punitive measures and those of the authorities.
As a result of the decision to redeploy troops in remote villages, the IDF will have to once again deploy reservists in the territories.
In yet another attempt to suppress the recent wave of terrorism against Arab collaborators, security forces on Wednesday demolished the house of four members of a terrorist gang suspected of having murdered an alleged collaborator in the village of Irtas, south of Bethlehem.
Four of the members are resident of Irtas, and the fifth comes from the nearby refugee camp of Dehaishe.
Jewish settlers in Hebron decided Wednesday to use their rifles when attacked with stones — contrary to army regulations. Gen. Amram Mitzna, commander of he central region, said that anyone who violates the law will be treated accordingly.
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