March 7, 2011
Outpost evacuation handled appropriately, Israeli probe finds
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Israeli police forces acted appropriately and proportionately in evacuating a West Bank outpost, a police investigation found.
The investigation released Sunday found that last week’s demolition of three illegal structures at the Gilad Farm outpost in the northern West Bank, which led to settler protests throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem, was carried out in a “proportional, restrained and professional” manner, according to reports.
Settlers said that police used unnecessary force, including rubber bullets and tear gas, in the evacuation; eight settlers were arrested and 15 wounded as the result of clashes with police.
Israeli Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch acknowledged later that police, fearing for their safety, had used plastic bullets—the first time they had been used against Israelis.
The investigation said the police used paintball guns.
