No Security Incidents as Hundreds Visit Tziyun of Yehoshua Bin-Nun

Several hundred people davened on Motzoei Shabbos at the tziyun of Yehoshua Bin-Nun, located in the Arab village of Kifr Haris, near Ariel. The group was accompanied by IDF soldiers. No security incidents were reported, unlike a week earlier, when Jews who attempted to daven at the tziyun were attacked by local residents with rocks and bricks.

Despite being attacked, the group managed to reach the site and took shelter in the building there. They called security forces for assistance in getting out in the face of a major riot by Arabs, but after breaking up the riot, police arrested them for entering a Palestinian Authority-controlled area without a permit.

The group was taken by police for arraignment later in the day, but the court released them, agreeing with the contention of the Honenu legal rights organization that defended them. Attorneys for the group pointed out that the tziyun is located in Area B, which is not supposed to have any restrictions on Israeli visits.

Overnight Saturday, security officials said they arrested four wanted security suspects in other areas in Yehudah and Shomron. The suspects were wanted for participating in rioting and throwing stones and firebombs that endangered Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Several of the suspects were also charged with belonging to Hamas. All were being questioned on their activities by security forces.