Could this be a taste of things to come as the Annapolis summit - and its demands for the removal of all Jewish presence from Judea and Samaria - nears? A heavy contingent of security forces used what the residents called "heavy violence" against them to dismantle the Shvut Ami outpost near Kedumim in the Shomron. The eviction began around 3 PM Sunday. Shvut Ami was first established this past Sukkot, some six weeks ago, together with four other outposts in various places around Judea and Samaria. The goal, as stated by a rabbis' proclamation at the time, was to "go from strength to strength regarding the commandment of settling the Land of Israel... We must go from one strength, namely, the communities and towns that have already been built in the Land, to the next strength - i.e., the hilltops whose construction and development are being held up for various strange reasons. These reasons stem primarily from the weakness of our [government] leadership, and also from a failure to see the reality religiously, politically and demographically... Our response is: 'Some by Supreme Court petitions, and some by terrorist attacks, but we - in the Name of the L-rd our G-d will call!" [based on Psalms 20,8] - the G-d Who has commanded us to come and inherit the land that He promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants after them..." Shvut Ami has been the most long-lived of the five, having survived several attempts to destroy it. Violence was used on more than one occasion over the past few weeks, and two youths were beaten inside a police station shortly after being removed from the site. Though up to 200 people have been at Shvut Ami at any one time, only 70 nationalist camp supporters were at the site when the security forces arrived this afternoon (Sunday). Scuffling broke out between the sides, and a police van was damaged. The pioneers also set tires afire and spread spikes on the ground. The IDF declared the area a "closed military zone," and then arrested at least 16 youths - mostly girls - who violated the new order. The would-be residents accused the police of using "heavy violence" against them. It was later reported that dozens of youths were back at the site, rebuilding it anew. Police Officer Takes Camera Again The Land of Israel Legal Forum said that once again, Border Guard police officer Shlomo Even-Paz illegally confiscated a video camera of one of its photographers who had videoed the police violence. Just last week, MK Uri Ariel (National Union) asked Public Security Minister Avi Dichter to suspend Even-Paz for allegedly having destroyed evidence in a similar manner during an ascent to the destroyed community of Homesh two months ago. The Police Department's Complaints Division is currently investigating charges that Even-Paz removed the memory card from a video camera at the scene and destroyed it. "It appears taht Even-Paz has turned the destruction of evidence into his profession," said Legal Forum leaders. Director Nachi Eyal said, "We have the impression that Even-Paz has become accustomed to destroying film and photos of his policemen as they conduct evictions. A country based on law may not allow this phenomenon of defending police violence to continue."
