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Chief of General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz (File Photo)
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Jewish settlers and their supporters clash with Israeli troops and police as authorities evacuated the Samarian settlement outpost of Amona. (AP File Photo)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners March 8, 2006 |
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Chief of General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, appeared Wednesday before the Knesset commission of inquiry into the violent clashes in Amona.
"In no way did I understand that the Amona evacuation was similar to the Gaza evacuation," he said. "The disengagement was a move undertaken in the face of legal communities, and in Amona we're talking about a move meant to enforce law and order over illegal construction, and therefore I find no room for comparison between the two incidents."
He added that the evacuation of the outpost of Amona was discussed even before the disengagement, and the operation to clear the outpost was handled well by security forces.
Meanwhile, the commission of inquiry revealed a substantial contradiction between the testimonies of Interior Security Minister Gideon Ezra and Chief of Staff Halutz regarding the walk undertaken by troops in order to reach Amona.
Last week, Ezra told the commission of inquiry that forces had to walk all night after settlers blocked roads in the area. Halutz, however, said that "the initial plan called for a march on foot - altogether they marched over half an hour some two to three kilometers. The march was planned ahead of time." He added that "there were roadblocks on the way" and that the friction between troops and settlers only took place on the main slope leading to Amona.
Halutz: No rubber bullets; OK to mounted troops, batons
Halutz told the probe that he prohibited the use of rubber bullets during the evacuation but permitted the police forces to be mounted on horseback. "We knew there will be mounted troops - the decision on the ground was made by the officers on the ground - I can decide on an upper limit - not using rubber bullets," Halutz said.
Halutz said that he had allowed for force to be used if necessary, but only senior police officers had the authority to implement the use of clubs against protesters.
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