A reserve battalion stationed in Samaria postponed a major operation in one of the Arab villages as part of the IDF's war against Hamas and other terrorist organization. Instead, according to reports received by Hakol HaYehudi, the IDF assigned forces to secure the Arab olive harvest near the community of Migdalim.
The olive harvest near Migdalim began yesterday, and in response, dozens of women and children from the community protested the security failure in allowing the harvest. "Even during normal times, we don't see so many Arabs so close to the security fence,” Tehila, a resident of the community said. "At least fifty cars, if not more, and thousands of Arabs gathered nearby the fence of our community. Inside the town, there are children in schools, while most of the men have been called up to the reserves. We sent them to protect our country, not for our security here to be compromised. The situation here is really scary.”
She continued, “While it’s true that the army is here, instead of being at the posts where they normally are and protecting us, they choose to support the Arabs from the nearby village who are trying to harvest from trees that they never harvested before and are coming closer to our community than ever before.”
Head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, also criticized the approval given by the IDF for the Arab olive harvest. In a letter sent today (Sunday) to Netanyahu and Gallant, he strongly criticized the fact that the IDF is diverting significant forces from guarding Jewish communities in order to support the Arab olive harvest that jeopardizes the communities’ security.
The IDF Spokesperson refused to respond substantively to the report, but a source in the IDF confirmed the details.
The IDF Spokesperson stated to Hakol HaYehudi, “Since the beginning of Operation Guardians of the Walls, thousands of reserve soldiers have been called up, many weapons have been distributed, and many significant changes have been made in order to protect the communities of Judea and Samaria. The IDF and the Civil Administration are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens and communities, alongside the olive harvest carried out by the Palestinian population in the areas of Judea and Samaria.”
The IDF Spokesperson added, “Given the ongoing war, IDF forces are managing an atmosphere of increased risk and have made security adjustments on the ground, especially in areas where olive harvests take place in proximity to Israeli communities, roads used by Israelis, and around sensitive areas. These changes include close coordination between security forces, and the stationing of troops near any sites where a harvest is taking place."
The IDF Spokesperson concluded, “To better fulfill the mission of protecting Jewish communities in the best possible way and as part of a dialogue with the residents, it was decided to prioritize placing additional troops in the area over other operations.”
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