Settler chiefs plan ‘code’ to stop violence

Following the evacuation, Jewish extremist youths, some wearing masks, took over a number of Palestinian homes in Hebron and set them on fire. In one case, two men from the nearby settlement of Kiryat Arba opened fire on a group of Palestinians, two of whom sustained moderate wounds.

“We cannot allow anarchy and violence,” Yesha settlement council head Danny Dayan said this week. “We are writing the code of conduct in order to prevent such violent activity in the future.”

According to Mr Dayan, the code will lay down guidelines on how to resist future evacuations. He said it would forbid any physical or verbal violence against security personnel as well as innocent Palestinians and would also ensure that the youth heeded the authority of the settler leadership.

“There is a need for leadership so there will not be anarchy as there was in Hebron,” Mr Dayan said.

While Mr Dayan expressed confidence in the code, one activist who was present at the evacuation in Hebron said he did not plan to follow them.

“We will return to the home and will have many surprises waiting for the IDF and the police,” said the activist, who would only give his name as Moshe. “We will do everything we can to prevent additional evacuations in the future.”

The Defence Ministry said it would use its full authority to stop future attacks against innocent Palestinians.

“This type of violence is unacceptable and we cannot allow this to happen,” said Maj-Gen Amos Gilad, Coordinator of the Government Activities in the Territories. “If they are not stopped, these extremists will bring a disaster on themselves and the state of Israel.”