Israel/Palestine

Some facts from way back then ......

What was the public reaction to the demolitions and the confrontations?

In general the Israeli public has supported the evacuation and demolition of the illegal structures in the Amona outpost, and has generally blamed the settlers for the violence that occurred at the site.

- A "Dialogue" poll of adult Israelis (including Israeli Arabs) carried out on January 31st for Ha'aretz newspaper and Israel's Channel 10 (and published on February 2nd), asked people if they "support or oppose the forceful evacuation of the Amona outpost." Of those polled, 58.8% said "support," 22.1% said "oppose," and 19.1% gave some other answer.

- A "Dahaf" poll of 500 adult Israelis (including Israeli Arabs) for Yedioth Ahronoth carried out on February 1st (and published on February 3rd), asked people, "should the illegal outpost Amona have been evacuated?" 58% of those polled answered "yes," and 34% answered "no." The poll also asked, "Who is responsible for the violence that broke out during the course of the evacuation?" 57% of those polled responded "settlers," 16% responded "army/police," 10% responded "both sides," and 4% blamed "Olmert/government."

- A "Geocartography" poll commissioned by Army Radio and carried out the morning of February 2nd asked people to assess blame for the confrontations and violence at Amona (with those polled apparently permitted to select more than one answer). Of those polled, 70% blamed the violence at Amona on "past Israeli governments who encouraged the settler enterprise," 64% blamed the settler leadership (the Yesha Council), 57% blamed the rabbis who indoctrinated the protesting youth, 51% blamed the Israeli government for not finding a peaceful solution, 39% blamed the violence on settlers and their supporters, and 31% said the blame was shared by the settlers and the police. Of those polled, 63% said that they "understood the settlers' sense of betrayal" but "their use of violence was unjustified."

What does the violent resistance in Amona mean for future actions against outposts?

Some observers believe that the settlers - and in particular the segment of the settler youth that is remains energized, alienated, and angered by the Gaza disengagement - deliberately sought to raise the stakes at Amona by engaging in far more violent resistance than in the past. In doing so, they wanted to send a message about the political costs of any future settlement evacuations in the West Bank.

Early indications are, however, that their tactics may have backfired. Acting Prime Minister Olmert responded forcefully to the reports of settlers attacking Israeli soldiers, stating at a Knesset meeting that "This is a phenomenon that cannot continue or be accepted. When bricks are thrown at the heads of soldiers and police officers, a line has clearly been crossed." He reportedly went on to say that, "This is reaching a scope we haven't seen before. This was an organized activity on the part of the settlers for political ends. The State of Israel will not tolerate it."

Other senior officials took a similarly hard line, including Cabinet Minister Roni Bar-On, who stated that, "We will not allow any law-breaker, even if he is a member of Knesset...to harm the State of Israel as a state of law. We restrained ourselves in Gush Katif. We restrained ourselves in Hebron, in Yitzhar, and in outposts for a long time, even if people there physically injured security forces. That's finished. The era of restraint has come to an end. From now on, this will be a nation of law, which enforces the law." He also said that, "Whoever breaks the law, whoever harms the army, whoever harms the police, will pay the price, and immediately. No one in the State of Israel will be above the law," he concluded. Bar-On also criticized settler leaders for cowardice in "hiding behind children" and inciting them to climb onto rooftops and attack security forces evacuating Amona.