Soldier struck in head with bottle during riot by Jewish youths in Binyamin

An IDF soldier was moderately wounded in the head in a violent riot today (Tuesday) in Binyamin.

The riot took place near Oz Tzion, when dozens of young people, some of them masked, threw stones and other objects at the IDF and the Israel Defense Forces after security forces destroyed a number of illegal structures that had been erected at the site.

A glass bottle that was thrown struck the head of a soldier who was evacuated to receive treatment at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem.

The IDF stated, "In a severe incident today (Tuesday), an IDF soldier was moderately injured by a glass bottle that was hurled at him by Israeli civilians during a violent riot that was instigated during efforts to remove an illegal outpost in the Binyamin area. The soldier was evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment and his family has been notified."

"During the incident, dozens of Israeli civilians hurled stones toward the soldiers, who responded with riot dispersal means. Israel Border Police forces apprehended two suspects.

"The IDF strongly and unequivocally condemns any use of violence against IDF soldiers and calls for the instigators to be brought to justice. The IDF will continue to operate to maintain security and order in Judea and Samaria," the military stated.

A similar incident took place last week, when two female IDF soldiers were lightly injured after being attacked by a number of right-wing activists near Givat Assaf in the Binyamin region.

The soldiers received medical treatment at the scene.

The attackers sprayed the female soldiers with tear gas during a confrontation near the outpost of Oz Tzion. According to a security source, the confrontation began after hilltop youth entered an olive grove belonging to a Palestinian Arab in the nearby village of Burka, and a confrontation with Palestinian Arabs erupted.