17-year-old resident of Itamar claimed: He attacked me.
By JPOST.COM STAFFsoldier black eye 298.88(photo credit: Channel 1)
The Judea and Samaria Police central investigation unit on Thursday arrested a 17-year-old suspected of attacking the IDF's Samaria deputy division commander, Lt.-Col. Benny Shick, last week near Elon Moreh.
The youth was apprehended at the entrance to the West Bank settlement of Itamar where he had been living briefly. For the past few weeks he had been staying at the farm of Avri Ran, father of the illegal outposts and Hilltop Youth icon.
The suspect allegedly hit the officer in the face fracturing his eye socket. The result of the attack was clearly evident on Shick's face, as he suffered from a black eye.
The teen was questioned at a Samaria district station. He said in his defense that Shick was the one who attacked him, showing bruises on his face as evidence, Israel Radio reported.
The assault occurred during the evacuation of the illegal outpost near Elon Moreh. The soldiers clearing the outpost encountered violent resistance on the part of some 150 occupants. The opposition included cursing, tearing the ranks off officers' shoulders, slicing army vehicle tires and throwing rocks.
Three people were arrested during the incident, including head of Kedumim Regional Council Daniella Weiss. Approximately 30 protesters vandalized a bus that carried them away from the site, breaking its windows and setting it on fire.
