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The evacuation of Amona (AP File)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners February 15, 2006 |
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An unknown assailant arrived Tuesday night at the home of Brigadier General Meir Bokovza, deputy commander of the Judea and Samaria district, in the town of Shoham near Ben-Gurion Airport, and set his car on fire.
The car of Bokovza's neighbor was also set on fire. The two vehicles were totally burned.
Police assessed the possibility that the officer's car was set on fire intentionally by right-wing activists, as Bukovza commanded the police forces who led the evacuation of the Samarian outpost of Amona two weeks ago.
More than 200 protesters and members of the security forces were injured in the evacuation of Amona, for which both sides have been strongly criticized for excessive violence.
Following the attack, police began reevaluating warnings of various threats made to officers who had senior command roles in the disengagement and the Amona evacuation, Haaretz reported.
Ynet reported that since the operation, Bokovza and other senior police officers have been subject to threats on the part of right-wing activists. The Ben-Gurion Airport police thus provided him with special security arrangements, which included frequent patrols near his home. Nonetheless, an unknown assailant succeeded in approaching his home.
The man poured an inflammable material on the police car and on another car. Within a few seconds, the two vehicles were totally burned.
Jpost reported that Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra severely condemned the incident, but noted that there were numerous cases of abuse and violence against security forces in recent weeks.
Some examples that Ezra cited were threats against a Border Police commander and against OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh. He noted that unknown attackers released dogs in the yard of a police officer who participated in the evacuation of Amona.
Israel Radio reported that Judea and Samaria Police Chief Cmdr. Yisrael Yitzhak received threatening calls on his office and cellular phones. The calls included warning to avenge police violence and the razing of the nine buildings.
Health Minister Ya'akov Edri said the arson attack was an attack on the rule of law in Israel.
Meanwhile, MK Avashalom Vilan (Meretz-Yahad) accused MK Effi Eitam (NU/NRP) and his colleagues in the right-wing of responsibility for the reported arson by legitimizing violence against police.
The internal minister promised that violence against security forces would not be forgiven, and that every effort would be made to jail the perpetrators.
Central District police formed a special investigation unit in an effort to locate the vandals, the radio said. A publication ban has been placed on details of the investigation.
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