Price-Tag Attacks Erupt in South Hebron Amid Nightly Evictions of Illegal Outposts
Over the past night, price-tag attacks occurred in the southern Hebron Hills, including the arson of construction equipment and graffiti with hostile slogans. These incidents followed a series of nightly evacuations of recently established illegal Jewish outposts in the West Bank, one of which was set up on a military helicopter landing pad, rendering it temporarily inoperable. The increased operational burden on Israeli forces has led to direct consequences, such as postponing arrests of suspected terrorists to prioritize handling Jewish rioters.
The attackers set fire to equipment in Wadi Raham and sprayed graffiti reading "Mutual Responsibility" and "Gush Shilo Raids" on buildings. The graffiti references recent Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations to dismantle illegal outposts established by extremist settlers, some located in Area B and near Palestinian villages. A radical group claimed responsibility for the price-tag acts and publicly blamed Brigadier General Kobi Heller, commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, for the evictions. A poster circulated by the group depicted Heller alongside Central Command Chief Aviv Kochavi, labeling them as "eviction champions" responsible for destruction.
The cycle of violence in the West Bank involves initial attacks against Jews, followed by the establishment of illegal outposts as retaliation. The military and Civil Administration delay evictions due to security sensitivities, but after mourning periods, a wave of removals begins. Extremists attempt to disrupt these operations through price-tag attacks on Palestinian villages and by targeting senior military officials to halt evictions. Despite a recent significant decline in attacks in the West Bank, such extremist actions persist.
Recently, settlers reoccupied the Kadim settlement in northern Samaria, evacuated during the disengagement plan. Extremists undermine settlement expansion efforts approved by the government, which has authorized unprecedented construction since 1967. In one severe case, settlers erected an illegal outpost on a military helicopter landing pad near the village of Yatma, close to Tapuach Junction, disabling its operational use for several hours. This pad is critical for evacuating casualties and deploying forces rapidly. The IDF condemned the unauthorized construction on vital military infrastructure and emphasized the need to keep such facilities available at all times.
Initially, the IDF avoided evicting the new outposts due to sensitivities and engaged in dialogue with residents, some of whom left voluntarily. When this failed, the military began nightly removals of one or two outposts at a time, deploying several companies to protect residents and respond swiftly to incidents. Due to the increased focus on these disturbances, the IDF has reprioritized missions, delaying arrests of Palestinian terror suspects to address clashes between Jewish settlers and Palestinians, according to reports from Galei Tzahal.
