Palestinians: 'The barrier of fear is broken'; Settlers: 'If there is no one to rely on - we will rely on ourselves'
Following the killing of Major Yuval Ezra and Binyahu Malet in a terror attack, which led to the shooting death of the terrorist and other Palestinians, tensions in Judea and Samaria have reached a breaking point. Residents of the settlements blame the authorities for inaction, while Palestinian representatives claim their reaction is a result of justified anger.
'For You, O Lord, have set it on fire with fire, and with fire You will rebuild it,' began the message from the 'Travelers of David and Achikam' group, which planned a hike in Areas A and B of Judea and Samaria, near Havat Gilad. According to the IDF, the group did not coordinate their route with security forces. During the trip, the Israelis encountered Palestinians near the village of Tell, leading to a confrontation. Members of the Havat Gilad standby squad and an IDF unit were called to the scene.
During the clash, a Palestinian terrorist snatched an M-16 rifle and opened fire. Standby squad member Binyahu Malet and Major Yuval Ezra were killed. Four Palestinians, including the terrorist, were shot dead.
Reactions from both sides
Dr. Jihad Ramadan, a resident of Tell and a representative of the Palestinian Authority to UNESCO, states that 'the barrier of fear has been broken.' He describes the incident as 'justified anger' and accuses settlers of provocation. 'The army does not come to protect us. It comes only when it identifies that the settlers are in danger,' he claims, blaming Israel's political leadership for the escalation.
Meanwhile, across Judea and Samaria, residents are preparing for protests against the recent wave of terror attacks. Itai Zar, brother of Gilad Zar, notes: 'We are living inside terror, with the feeling of a war zone.' Moshe Hachmon, chairman of the Havat Gilad committee, remembers the late Binyahu Malet as a man who 'jumped to help others and paid with his life.'
Criticism of the authorities
Residents of Havat Gilad are expressing anger toward the military and political echelon. Yehuda Shimon blames the head of the Shin Bet and the Central Command Chief for 'ongoing lawlessness.' He argues that Israelis are afraid to use their weapons for fear of prosecution. 'If Bibi does not have the courage after such a terror attack to erase the village of Tell, the residents will understand that there is no one to rely on — and they will rely only on themselves,' he asserts.
Since the attack, the IDF has arrested over 70 wanted persons throughout Judea and Samaria. In the village of Tell, 11 people were arrested and about 80 were questioned. That evening, in the Susiya area, terrorists attacked a soldier on leave and snatched his weapon; the soldier was evacuated in moderate condition.
