Western Shomron Residents: Arabs Using ‘Fire Terror’ Against Us

Rubbish fires that endanger the health of Israelis are not just the problem of those living in the Gaza border area. Residents of the community of Oranit in western Shomron have filed official complaints over the burning of trash and other items by Arabs in nearby villages. The smoke from the fires wafts over their communities, causing a major health hazard for residents, Channel 20 reported.

“They burn refrigerators, chairs, tables and anything else,” one resident told Channel 20. “We suffer, we choke, we are forced to smell the dangerous fumes generated by plastic. This has been a long-standing and well-known problem. This is terror for all intents and purposes. It is difficult for children to breathe, not to mention the disgusting odors that it generates. Someone must put a stop to this.” Another resident said that the burning made walking outside next to impossible. “I can’t hang laundry outside, because the particles in the air ruin it. The eyes burn, the children are coughing all day long. Why do we have to live like this?”

Channel 20 said it was awaiting comment from the various government offices that were in charge of pollution and security in Yehudah and Shomron.

IDF soldiers overnight Wednesday seized weapons that were to be used in terror attacks. Soldiers, working with police, discovered weapons in Arab villages in both Kalkilye and in the Chevron region. In a statement, the army said that such weapons were used in terror attacks as well as for criminal activity, and that security forces were determined to seize all weapons that were being held illegally by all people, in order to better protect all Israelis and residents of Palestinian Authority-controlled areas, who are also under threat by terrorists and criminals.

Overnight Wednesday, security officials said they arrested 10 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.