Police officers, settlers injured in clash at West Bank Kumi Ori outpost

Settlers said that officers had thrown tear gas and stun grenades at families, including children, who had attempted to prevent the demolition of the home.

 An injured man is evacuated after clashes between Israel Police forces and settlers broke out in Kumi Ori on December 31, 2021 (photo credit: ELAZAR RIGER)
An injured man is evacuated after clashes between Israel Police forces and settlers broke out in Kumi Ori on December 31, 2021
(photo credit: ELAZAR RIGER)

Ten settlers, two border police and one Yasam riot control officer were lightly injured in violent clashes during the demolition of a modular home at the Kumi Ori outpost near the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar on Friday.

Security forces were attacked by “dozens of rioters” who “threw stones at them and their vehicles, blocked the road with burning tires and even threw burning tires at the security forces,” the border police said.

Several vehicles were damaged, the border police spokesperson said.

Security forces had entered “Kumi Ori to evacuate a building in a closed military area,” the spokesperson explained.

Security forces, together with the Civil Administration, had entered the outpost to demolish an illegal modular home.

A backhoe loader damaged by stones thrown by settlers from Kumi Ori on December 31, 2021 (credit: ISRAEL POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
A backhoe loader damaged by stones thrown by settlers from Kumi Ori on December 31, 2021 (credit: ISRAEL POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Settlers said that officers tossed tear gas and stun grenades at families, including children, who had attempted to prevent the demolition of the home.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said it was unfortunate that security forces had chosen to act against the settlements in Judea and Samaria by going after a home located a short distance away from the site of an attempted stabbing attack that occurred that same day.

This government continues to support the wrong values, Dagan said. The demolition of a home makes a serious negative statement against Zionism, he added.

“Time and against I have warned... of the continued conduct of the Israeli government, which on the one hand responds helplessly to terrorists and their envoys from the Palestinian Authority and on the other hand acts blatantly against settlement in Judea and Samaria,” Dagan said.