Right-wingers raise flag in Jericho

Security forces begin evacuating activists from ancient synagogue.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
An IDF soldier inspects a Palestinian vehicle at t (photo credit: AP)
An IDF soldier inspects a Palestinian vehicle at t
(photo credit: AP)
Security forces began evacuating right-wingers from a Jericho synagogue who broke through IDF checkpoints in the West Bank on Sunday afternoon and entered the city, holding prayer services. They raised an Israeli flag, according to a Channel 10 report.
Among the activists, 35 people were arrested, including two women and an unknown number of minors. The minors refused to identify themselves to authorities.
Upon entering the city, the activists - among them MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) - began to make their way to the ancient synagogue which was torched during the Second Intifada.
The city of Jericho falls under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority , and Israelis are not allowed to enter it.
When stopped at the military checkpoints, however, the activists,claimed that they had a right to enter every city and community inIsrael and the Palestinian territories.
"The Oslo Accords are dead, we will not agree to the establishment ofan enemy state in Israel right under our noses," Ben-Ari said as hewalked with the activists.
The activists also marked the anniversary of the death of Moses, thebiblical prophet who did not live to see the wandering Israelites enterthe biblical land of Canaan.
Meir Bretler, one of the activists, told the news station, "We erectedan Israeli flag here to renew our presence in Jericho. We want to renewthe Jewish presence which ended here in 2000 with the start of theintifada. We will stay here for as long as we can."
Yaakov Lappin contributed to this report.