Clashes between IDF soldiers and left-wing activists Friday resulted in the suspension of the fighters.
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Activists traveled to the city to meet with Palestinians following last week's clashes with Israelis during the annual Jewish pilgrimage to Hebron for the reading of a specific Torah portion. One man was reportedly accosted by an Israeli soldier who attempted to detain him.
Videos showed the left-wing activist being pulled into a bus station by a soldier, who then grabbed the activist from behind and threw him to the ground before punching him. Another soldier can be heard cursing at the group.
Shortly after the incident, the IDF released a statement condemning the soldiers' actions: "The conduct of the soldiers is serious, and the violence used is not consistent with the values of the Israeli military."
According to the statement, the events will be investigated, and upon completion, the findings will be forwarded to the military attorney's office for examination. The soldiers involved were suspended from operational activity until the end of the investigation.
Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi also strongly condemned the use of physical or verbal violence by Israeli soldiers. He concurred that violence is "contrary to the values of the Israeli military."
A separate video from Hebron on Friday showed a soldier from the same squad confronting an activist while mentioning far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir's new role in the upcoming coalition.
"Ben-Gvir is going to sort things out in this place," the soldier said. "That's it, you guys have lost … the fun is over." Earlier on Friday, it was announced that the lawmaker would take on the role of national security minister, which will be expanded specifically for him.
The Otmza Yehudit leader is expected to be appointed national security minister in the next government. On Saturday, he suggested that the activists were to blame as they had probably provoked the soldiers, prompting their forceful reaction.
"I know these leftists well who come to Hebron. They provoke the soldiers, insult them and often attack them as well," he said in a statement. "I call on the police to investigate whether the left-wing extremists provoked the soldiers and injured them first. They must verify that the photos of the incident have not been falsified."
Stressing that "harming members of the far-left on the basis of their opinions could not be accepted," he said that "If it does turn out that these far-left activists have attacked and injured soldiers, they must be arrested immediately and put on trial."
Ben-Gvir later said that he would seek clarification from the military on the suspension of soldiers once the government is formed.
his article was first published by i24NEWS.
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