Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the ministry's counsel general to provide immediate legal assistance to IDF officers who have been sued by settlers. Barak's office released a statement saying that the defense minister viewed the lawsuits filed by the right-wing radicals as a "way to prevent the officers from doing their jobs." The two officers who have been sued are Judea and Samaria Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Noam Tibon and head of the Civil Administration, Brig.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai.