Prime Minister Ehud Olmert issued a statement praising Barak, the IDF and the Israel Police for a swift and successful evacuation. Olmert said that his government "will not lend a hand to anyone who tries to undermine the state's democratic character and the rule of law."
A security guard from Kiryat Arba and IDF soldiers aim loaded guns at Palestinians trying to get to their homes on the other side of Hebron.
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimksi
Hebron Jewish community spokeswoman Orit Struck attacked Barak's "duplicity" in moving against the structure even as he was negotiating with its residents on a compromise.
"It is totally ugly. It shows that he sought violence," Struck said. Thursday's events had furthered shattered what little shards of faith the settlers had in the Defense Ministry, which had betrayed them in the past as well, she said.
The violence of the past weeks was the direct result of Barak's decision to move against the home, she said, adding that until then Hebron had been relatively quiet.
Hebron settlers' spokesman David Wilder pledged that the community would continue to buy property in the city and to move into new homes. It plans to return to court to establish the legal right to be in Beit Hashalom, he said.
"We are going to take it back and we are going to make those who destroyed it pay to renovate it," Wilder said. "I have no doubt that we will be victorious in court."
Palestinians living near Beit Hashalom protest stone throwing attacks at their homes.
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimksi
He warned that those politicians who were responsible for the evacuation, such as Barak, would pay a heavy political price when it became understood that it had been unnecessary.
As for the reports of attacks on Palestinians near the structure, Wilder said he condemned the violence, if the reports turned out to be true.
The Palestinians who lived in the area were not connected to the legal and political struggle to keep Beit Hashalom, he said.
"I personally do not see any reason or desire to take a revenge on the Arabs who live around here. There is no reason for it and it is wrong," Wilder said.
The settlers in the area felt as if "they have been stabbed in the back," he said. The leaders of the Hebron community have not called for and do not condone random attacks on people and property, he said.
"It is like shooting ourselves in the foot. It will certainly not help us reach any goal we have set for ourselves," Wilder said.
Etgar Lefkovits and AP contributed to this report.
